California Pizza Kitchen

To make up for a delayed post, I'll give you this article that lists the top 10 pizza cities around the country.  I won't ruin it for you or anything, but it's total blasphemy that Louisville isn't #1....or any other number in the top 10.  However, if you'd like to start a nationwide pizza blog, I'm all for it.  Just give me credit for your inspiration, and I want a cut of your profits when you write a book based on my ideas.

The following post is the result of a rookie mistake on my part.  This week's pizza visit was supposed to be at Perfetto's on Hurstbourne Lane.  (For future references, they open at 4 PM.  Not open for lunch at 1. I'll remember that, Perfetto's.)  Because we were starving and sitting in front of a closed pizza joint three hours before they opened, we had to improvise.  And while I typically don't like to go to a popular pizza place two weeks in a row, we had little to work with on empty stomachs.  We decided to visit the California Pizza Kitchen in Oxmoor Mall.

My review of CPK will be relatively short, I believe.  As I'm writing this, I'm still not feeling well, and Duck Dynasty comes on later.  I need my rest so I can compare my life to the Robertson lifestyle down in West Monroe.  I typically don't come out well in those comparisons.

In other news, I got a Twitter account this week.  I'm still not 100% on it, but I'm going to try to post my weekly reviews on there as well.  As of right now, my only followers are my wife, my little sister, and a guy I used to work with at Target.  There are also a couple of people that I've never met that are following me and are probably annoyed with me posting about UofL and the Boston Celtics.  (T-Will, you still haven't given me a shout out.  What's up with that?)

On to the review!

We were seated fairly quickly, even during lunchtime on a SATURDAY.   I don't know what compelled us to eat at the mall on SATURDAY, but it worked out well enough I suppose.  It was fairly crowded, and the hostess told everyone that the wait was "about 20 minutes."  We waited about ten.

The appetizers are pretty cheap.  The fried macaroni was 3 or 4 bucks, and we split it (it's enough for one person, but we split it).  I'd recommend it!  (Sorry, no funny quips about this one.  I don't joke about no fried mac.)

The pizzas are individual sized (for us).  Katie had the pepperoni, and I got to try something new!

I stole a piece of her pizza, and holy crap that is some sweet pizza sauce.  I give it a B-.   Katie isn't being particularly helpful right now, so I have no idea on how much she liked it.  Sorry guys, can't guarantee full wife participation every week.

I, however, had the white pizza.  (insert racist or last name-related joke).  It's a four cheese pizza, with mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, and pecorino romano cheeses, with sauteed spinach and roasted garlic.  One of the cheeses (I don't know which, I'm not a cheese expert) was very, very dry.  It came in clumps on top of the pizza.  Anybody know what kind of cheese that is?  (I'm giving you all a once in a lifetime chance to teach me something, instead of me being a know-it-all.  Take advantage.)  Anyways, it was reeeeeeeally dry, so much that it overpowered the rest of the pizza to the point that I had to scrape it off.  Without the huge cheesy clumps, it was actually pretty good!  Oh, did I mention that it had BACON?  Yep, the holy grail of meats.  (Adding bacon to pizza automatically makes it great. Prove me wrong.  You can't.)

We ordered our pizzas on original crust, but it was a close decision.  I'd like to get the thin crust if I go back.

CPK serves many types of foods other than pizza, if you need to take someone with you.  Also, you can order pizza online and pick it up.  Bonus points for stuff like that!

Leftovers tests:

Katie - reheated a slice of pepperoni at 350 for five minutes, as usual.  According to her, it tasted the same as it was at CPK.  That has to mean something!

Corey - I still haven't reheated my piece.  I think that means something as well.

Final grades:

Service:  We had a server named Cory.  He doesn't spell his name right, but it was close enough.  He gets an A+ for that.  Yep, I did that.  My blog, my rules.  (Grade:  A+)
Atmosphere:  Lunchtime at the mall on a SATURDAY.  During a UK game.  Busy, to say the least.  Good service, and the chef came out to check on everyone.  Great.  (Grade:  A-)
Taste:  Decent.  The bbq chicken is really popular, if I remember right.  I'd suggest that one. (Grade:  C)
Accessibility:  Parking at the mall on a SATURDAY.  Guy on crutches.  They don't work well comfortably.  (Grade:  C+)

(Got a twitter?  I need friends.  Follow me at @MrWhiteCorey, and someone please tell T-Will to give me a shout out.  I need attention.  I'm injured.)