Review: California Pizza Kitchen, KLCC
>> Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Date: 21 January 2010, Thursday
Venue: California Pizza Kitchen, KLCCOccasion: Food tasting
Overall comment: There is quite an extensive variety found at CPK. You'll get from salads to pizza, pasta, & desserts, in different styles & preferences. Without doubt, I find the price slightly steeper compared to other franchises, but even with the higher-than-average price, the restaurant is often full house, especially during lunch hour! Better be there early or make your reservation prior to your meal time :)
Halal: Yes
>"PCK, is it? Phua Chu Kang ma....where got CPK...??"
>"Why don't you believe me?! KLCC there lah..." *gives the narrow eyes stare =.="*
Singaporeans & Malaysians will think PCK, but have you come across CPK? *wink* If you have not, then it's time to consider adding this abbreviation into your 'vocabulary' & dictionary!
Biodata of CPK
Name: California Pizza Kitchen
Birth Place: Beverly Hills, California, The United States of America
Birth Date: 27 March, 1985 (I was only crawling then..... =.=")
Parents' Names: Larry Flax & Rick Rosenfield (yes, both are men - it's an adoption program!)
Total Children: 238 full-service restaurants + 25 CPK ASAP* (all in America)
Total Grandchildren: 8 (1st grandchild in Singapore, 2nd in Kuala Lumpur, 3rd & 4th in Jakarta, 5th - 8th in Hong Kong)
Attributes: Full-service, fun, casual, unique, experimental-spirit of California
Specialty: Innovative Hearth-Baked Premium Pizza
Talents: Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, Chicken-Tequila Fettucine, Tortilla Spring Rolls, Key Lime Pie, BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Kung Pao Spaghetti
Favorite quote: Putting the entire world on a pizza, pasta or salad!
* CPK ASAP is the Premium Fast Version of CPK, offering a limited selection of the famous high quality hearth-baked pizzas, salad, soups, & sandwiches, with a "grab & go" concept.
CPK, KLCC
Overlooking the beautiful KLCC fountain & green KLCC park, spacious area of 5000 square feet, & strategically located right beside the escalator on the 1st floor of KLCC, CPK is easily found & is a favourite among many locals & foreigners, be it for lunch or dinner. This place is suitable for small private functions as they have a private room, as well as for larger groups or casual meal times at the spacious open plan seating.
Food Tasting - 'Double Happiness Celebration' Promotion!
If you're around town during the Chinese New Year & Valentine's Day week, you may consider CPK's newly launched 'Double Happiness Celebration' promotional menu/sets.
A few of us bloggers were invited for a food tasting session to try out CPK's Asian Delight Lunar New Year Menu. I am very thrilled to meet yet another bunch of bloggers whom I've never met before: Sue, Yen Yen, Coco, & Simon. It was great meeting all of you!
Here's what I personally think about both of CPK's promotional menu.
Special Dinner Menu for Two @ RM88 ++ includes:
- A choice of selected half size salad (enough for 2-3 persons!)
- A choice of selected 1 pizza
- A choice of selected 1 pasta
- A choice of 2 glasses of mocktails or sparkling wine
Asian Delight Lunar New Year Menu
What's special: Diners are offered a chance to participate in the "Sure Win" Hong Bao Lucky Draw where the winner(s) could walk away with dining vouchers worth up to RM388.00.
Note: To enjoy the Asian Delight Lunar New Year dishes to its fullest, come without expecting a "fully Chinese" taste & style as the dishes are ideas from the West :) Expect something fusion/ east-meets-west...
Appetizer:
Salads:
Note: Full size salads feeds 4-5 persons, while the half size salad is suitable for 2-3 persons. All photos below depict full size salads.
Pastas:
Pizza:
Desserts:
Halal: Yes
>"PCK, is it? Phua Chu Kang ma....where got CPK...??"
>"Why don't you believe me?! KLCC there lah..." *gives the narrow eyes stare =.="*
Singaporeans & Malaysians will think PCK, but have you come across CPK? *wink* If you have not, then it's time to consider adding this abbreviation into your 'vocabulary' & dictionary!
Biodata of CPK
Name: California Pizza Kitchen
Birth Place: Beverly Hills, California, The United States of America
Birth Date: 27 March, 1985 (I was only crawling then..... =.=")
Parents' Names: Larry Flax & Rick Rosenfield (yes, both are men - it's an adoption program!)
Total Children: 238 full-service restaurants + 25 CPK ASAP* (all in America)
Total Grandchildren: 8 (1st grandchild in Singapore, 2nd in Kuala Lumpur, 3rd & 4th in Jakarta, 5th - 8th in Hong Kong)
Attributes: Full-service, fun, casual, unique, experimental-spirit of California
Specialty: Innovative Hearth-Baked Premium Pizza
Talents: Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, Chicken-Tequila Fettucine, Tortilla Spring Rolls, Key Lime Pie, BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Kung Pao Spaghetti
Favorite quote: Putting the entire world on a pizza, pasta or salad!
* CPK ASAP is the Premium Fast Version of CPK, offering a limited selection of the famous high quality hearth-baked pizzas, salad, soups, & sandwiches, with a "grab & go" concept.
CPK, KLCC
Overlooking the beautiful KLCC fountain & green KLCC park, spacious area of 5000 square feet, & strategically located right beside the escalator on the 1st floor of KLCC, CPK is easily found & is a favourite among many locals & foreigners, be it for lunch or dinner. This place is suitable for small private functions as they have a private room, as well as for larger groups or casual meal times at the spacious open plan seating.
Food Tasting - 'Double Happiness Celebration' Promotion!
If you're around town during the Chinese New Year & Valentine's Day week, you may consider CPK's newly launched 'Double Happiness Celebration' promotional menu/sets.
A few of us bloggers were invited for a food tasting session to try out CPK's Asian Delight Lunar New Year Menu. I am very thrilled to meet yet another bunch of bloggers whom I've never met before: Sue, Yen Yen, Coco, & Simon. It was great meeting all of you!
I invited my Aunty Anne to join me for the event :)
Here's what I personally think about both of CPK's promotional menu.
Special Dinner Menu for Two @ RM88 ++ includes:
- A choice of selected half size salad (enough for 2-3 persons!)
- A choice of selected 1 pizza
- A choice of selected 1 pasta
- A choice of 2 glasses of mocktails or sparkling wine
Asian Delight Lunar New Year Menu
What's special: Diners are offered a chance to participate in the "Sure Win" Hong Bao Lucky Draw where the winner(s) could walk away with dining vouchers worth up to RM388.00.
Note: To enjoy the Asian Delight Lunar New Year dishes to its fullest, come without expecting a "fully Chinese" taste & style as the dishes are ideas from the West :) Expect something fusion/ east-meets-west...
Appetizer:
Lettuce Wraps (from RM23.00 - RM26.00 depending on meat selection)
Minced chicken &/shrimp, wok-seared with Shitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, & scallops in soy ginger sauce, served on a bed of crispy rice noodles & a side of spicy chilli-ginger sauce.
[Ruth] This is quite a refreshing dish. It's a very simple dish that tastes & feels very 'home-cooked'. I thought the lettuce wrap was quite unique as Chinese households rarely use this type of lettuce for wraps (it does feel quite Western...which made this dish a marriage of east & west). I enjoyed this more than the rest of the dishes.
Minced chicken &/shrimp, wok-seared with Shitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, & scallops in soy ginger sauce, served on a bed of crispy rice noodles & a side of spicy chilli-ginger sauce.
[Ruth] This is quite a refreshing dish. It's a very simple dish that tastes & feels very 'home-cooked'. I thought the lettuce wrap was quite unique as Chinese households rarely use this type of lettuce for wraps (it does feel quite Western...which made this dish a marriage of east & west). I enjoyed this more than the rest of the dishes.
Salads:
Note: Full size salads feeds 4-5 persons, while the half size salad is suitable for 2-3 persons. All photos below depict full size salads.
Miso Salad (Half size @ RM19.00, Full size @ RM22.00 - with chilled grilled chicken / Add grilled shrimp RM14.00)
Shredded Napa cabbage with fresh avocado, julienne cucumbers, daikon edamame, carrots, red cabbage, green onions, cilantro, crispy rice noodles & crispy wontons tossed in a Miso dressing.
[Ruth] I didn't quite enjoy this. I thought it was like eating a mass of chopped up vegetables like the Indian rojak or like coleslaw. Probably too much of lettuce to my liking.
Shredded Napa cabbage with fresh avocado, julienne cucumbers, daikon edamame, carrots, red cabbage, green onions, cilantro, crispy rice noodles & crispy wontons tossed in a Miso dressing.
[Ruth] I didn't quite enjoy this. I thought it was like eating a mass of chopped up vegetables like the Indian rojak or like coleslaw. Probably too much of lettuce to my liking.
Thai Crunch Salad (Full size @ RM29.00, Half size @ RM26.00, Additional fresh avocado @ RM6.00)
Shredded Napa cabbage, chilled grilled chicken breast, julienne cucumbers, edamame, crispy wontons, peanuts, cilantro, julienne carrots, red cabbage, & scallions, tossed with a lime-cilantro dressing & topped with crispy rice sticks with Thai peanut dressing.
[Ruth] At first bite, I wondered if there was any Thai element to the salad; it tasted more like Indonesian than Thai :P The avocados are optional, but it was added to our dish. This dish reminded me of the Indonesian's Gado-Gado... this salad needs more sauce though! Erm... it tasted too similar to the Miso Salad, except for the variant of dressing... if only CPK added chilli padi, lemongrass, line juice &/or even shredded "daun limau purut" to this salad - it would be SO much more Thai!
Shredded Napa cabbage, chilled grilled chicken breast, julienne cucumbers, edamame, crispy wontons, peanuts, cilantro, julienne carrots, red cabbage, & scallions, tossed with a lime-cilantro dressing & topped with crispy rice sticks with Thai peanut dressing.
[Ruth] At first bite, I wondered if there was any Thai element to the salad; it tasted more like Indonesian than Thai :P The avocados are optional, but it was added to our dish. This dish reminded me of the Indonesian's Gado-Gado... this salad needs more sauce though! Erm... it tasted too similar to the Miso Salad, except for the variant of dressing... if only CPK added chilli padi, lemongrass, line juice &/or even shredded "daun limau purut" to this salad - it would be SO much more Thai!
Chinese Chicken Salad (Half size @ RM20.00, Full size @ RM23.00)
Shredded lettuce & crispy wontons tossed with julienne carrots, scallions, basil, toasted sesame seeds & fresh cilantro in a spicy, sweet & sour sesame dressing + topped with chilled grilled chicken breast.
[Ruth] Too many salads in a meal (though of different variant) makes the PerutBesi feel "jelak". Just make sure that you order just ONE salad & you'll be able to enjoy it to its fullest! :) This salad is also another lettuce-based & wonton/wantan-skin based salad! Probably these are the main ingredients for the Asian-style salads at CPK. The hoisin-taste sauce was quite over-powering for a salad.
Shredded lettuce & crispy wontons tossed with julienne carrots, scallions, basil, toasted sesame seeds & fresh cilantro in a spicy, sweet & sour sesame dressing + topped with chilled grilled chicken breast.
[Ruth] Too many salads in a meal (though of different variant) makes the PerutBesi feel "jelak". Just make sure that you order just ONE salad & you'll be able to enjoy it to its fullest! :) This salad is also another lettuce-based & wonton/wantan-skin based salad! Probably these are the main ingredients for the Asian-style salads at CPK. The hoisin-taste sauce was quite over-powering for a salad.
The salads here can be enjoyed like the yee-sang. Just toss it & mix all the ingredients of the salad together!
Pastas:
Kung Pao Spaghetti (With chicken @ RM29.00, with shrimp @ RM36.00, with chicken & shrimp @ RM39.00)
A classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts, & hot red chillies, cooked with spaghetti.
[Ruth] My imaginations of Kung Pao dishes comes in really dark sauce-color, but this one was a surprise to me...hahaha.... CPK substituted the usual cashew nuts in Kung Pao dishes with peanuts, & I reckon they used some hoisin sauce for the base instead of just thick dark soy sauce. This dish is a favourite among the patrons of CPK, but I felt that it was a tad too salty & sweet. I think this dish needs more dried chilli & red onions just like the 'dai chow' places in Chinese restaurants :D having Kung Pao style spaghetti does feel strange, but it is unique :)
* dish contains alcohol
A classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts, & hot red chillies, cooked with spaghetti.
[Ruth] My imaginations of Kung Pao dishes comes in really dark sauce-color, but this one was a surprise to me...hahaha.... CPK substituted the usual cashew nuts in Kung Pao dishes with peanuts, & I reckon they used some hoisin sauce for the base instead of just thick dark soy sauce. This dish is a favourite among the patrons of CPK, but I felt that it was a tad too salty & sweet. I think this dish needs more dried chilli & red onions just like the 'dai chow' places in Chinese restaurants :D having Kung Pao style spaghetti does feel strange, but it is unique :)
* dish contains alcohol
Garlic Noodles (With chicken @ RM29.00, with shrimp @ RM36.00, with chicken & shrimp @ RM39.00)
Wok-stirred Chinese yellow noodles in garlic-ginger sauce with snow peas, Shitake mushrooms, mild onions, red & yellow peppers, broccoli, & scallions.
[Ruth] I personally prefer the Kung Pao pasta to this as I find this dish a tad too sweet for my liking. It tastes like there was bean-paste ("min see") in the sauce, which gave the dish a very aromatic & distinct taste. If you're a fan of garlic, ginger, & onions, you will enjoy this, but if you're not, you better not order this dish! :D (special caution to my friend, Rao, & my sister, Rach)
Wok-stirred Chinese yellow noodles in garlic-ginger sauce with snow peas, Shitake mushrooms, mild onions, red & yellow peppers, broccoli, & scallions.
[Ruth] I personally prefer the Kung Pao pasta to this as I find this dish a tad too sweet for my liking. It tastes like there was bean-paste ("min see") in the sauce, which gave the dish a very aromatic & distinct taste. If you're a fan of garlic, ginger, & onions, you will enjoy this, but if you're not, you better not order this dish! :D (special caution to my friend, Rao, & my sister, Rach)
Pizza:
Peking Duck Pizza (RM33.00/pizza)
Pan roasted duck breast, low-fat Mozzarella cheese, soy-glazed Shitake mushrooms, crispy wontons, slivered leek & ginger + Hoisin sauce
[Ruth] Interesting, but it's SO Asian!! Who would put Hoisin sauce, leek & duck meat on a pizza? "CPK boleh!" This pizza is a best-seller at CPK@KLCC. The cheese used is a low-fat version, thus there isn't any "pulling" effect for the cheese (which I thought was the 'fun' part of eating a pizza!). I find the wonton 'disturbing' once again - thought that it's not necessary on a pizza... the pizza is a 'lil dry & we were told that the crust is flown/shipped in from California, which meant that the dough is frozen for at least 3-4 months before it is used here in Malaysia!! *faints*
Pan roasted duck breast, low-fat Mozzarella cheese, soy-glazed Shitake mushrooms, crispy wontons, slivered leek & ginger + Hoisin sauce
[Ruth] Interesting, but it's SO Asian!! Who would put Hoisin sauce, leek & duck meat on a pizza? "CPK boleh!" This pizza is a best-seller at CPK@KLCC. The cheese used is a low-fat version, thus there isn't any "pulling" effect for the cheese (which I thought was the 'fun' part of eating a pizza!). I find the wonton 'disturbing' once again - thought that it's not necessary on a pizza... the pizza is a 'lil dry & we were told that the crust is flown/shipped in from California, which meant that the dough is frozen for at least 3-4 months before it is used here in Malaysia!! *faints*
Cholula Hot Sauce
CPK does not offer the usual Tabasco unlike other pizza outlets. Instead, they have this seemingly hot sauce from Mexico (you can't get it in Malaysia - it's another imported item from the USA). I tried it & it tasted like our local "Kampung Koh chilli sauce + vinegar! *lol* Not spicy enough... quite sour though :P
CPK does not offer the usual Tabasco unlike other pizza outlets. Instead, they have this seemingly hot sauce from Mexico (you can't get it in Malaysia - it's another imported item from the USA). I tried it & it tasted like our local "Kampung Koh chilli sauce + vinegar! *lol* Not spicy enough... quite sour though :P
Coffee Latte
Looks good, eh? I'm not sure how this tastes as my aunt had it.
Looks good, eh? I'm not sure how this tastes as my aunt had it.
Flavored Ice Tea (Peach, Mango, Strawberry, or Lemon)
I like such tea. The flavor comes in the sugar at the bottom. It's very fragrant, but once again, too sweet for my liking...hahaha...yes, I'm NOT a sweet-tooth :P
I like such tea. The flavor comes in the sugar at the bottom. It's very fragrant, but once again, too sweet for my liking...hahaha...yes, I'm NOT a sweet-tooth :P
Desserts:
Tiramisu (RM22.00/slice)
Sweet Italian cream cheese & marsale custard between layers of espresso and rum-laced lady fingers. Topped with shaved bitter-sweet chocolate.
[Ruth] Oh yes, it's VERY expensive! But it was good :) *drools* I LOVE the rum-full taste.... the manager commented that they soak the cake into rum so that the cake absorbs the lovely rum taste...yums! Erm...also quite sweet... hahaha...
Sweet Italian cream cheese & marsale custard between layers of espresso and rum-laced lady fingers. Topped with shaved bitter-sweet chocolate.
[Ruth] Oh yes, it's VERY expensive! But it was good :) *drools* I LOVE the rum-full taste.... the manager commented that they soak the cake into rum so that the cake absorbs the lovely rum taste...yums! Erm...also quite sweet... hahaha...
Red Velvet Cake (RM22.00/slice or additional RM6.50 ala mode)
Three layers of moist red velvet cake frosted with vanilla bean cream cheese & white chocolate curls. Served on vanilla bean sauce.
[Ruth] Indeed it was a moist cake - said to be moist chocolate cake with added beetroot to give it the striking-red color. It's quite unique & delicious, especially if you love sweet cakes!
Three layers of moist red velvet cake frosted with vanilla bean cream cheese & white chocolate curls. Served on vanilla bean sauce.
[Ruth] Indeed it was a moist cake - said to be moist chocolate cake with added beetroot to give it the striking-red color. It's quite unique & delicious, especially if you love sweet cakes!
Chocolate Souffle Cake (RM20.00/slice or additional RM6.50 ala mode)
A Belgian chocolate souffle cake served warm with CPK's triple-thick hot fudge on vanilla bean sauce.
[Ruth] This one's a killer.... I love the warm fudge-like souffle with the cool, creamy, vanilla ice cream.... omg.... *drools*
A Belgian chocolate souffle cake served warm with CPK's triple-thick hot fudge on vanilla bean sauce.
[Ruth] This one's a killer.... I love the warm fudge-like souffle with the cool, creamy, vanilla ice cream.... omg.... *drools*
A big thank you to California Pizza Kitchen @ KLCC for extending their warm hospitality & presenting us with their latest dishes!
Another big thank you to Integrated Public Relations for inviting me (and the rest of the bloggers) on behalf of CPK @ KLCC, for this delightful food tasting session!
Note: Ratings are given based on the dining experience (and the combination of food served). It's my personal ratings, so you may beg to differ :) Many friends told me that CPK's food is quite ok, though rather costly. Try it for yourselves & let me know what you think about it!
California Pizza Kitchen
Lot #140, Level 1, Suria KLCC
50088 Kuala Lumpur
* Mall is located at the Petronas Twin Tower
Tel: (+603) 2382 0512
Fax: (+603) 2382 0516
Business Hours: 11:30a.m. - 11:00p.m. daily (last order @ 10:30p.m.)
Website: www.cpk.com
Ratings:
Presentation: * * *
Price: * * 1/2
Environment: * * * *
Taste: * * *
Service: * * * 1/2
Overall
- Ruth
Posts
5 comments:
CPK... did anyone misunderstood it as PCK>? ur pictures is getting nicer and nicer so i suggest u to make it bigger?>??
Henry
->HenRy: :D Thanks very much for the encouragement! It took me such a long time to get this post out since I wasn't feeling very well lately - headache & aching back. What do u mean by "make it bigger"? Photos to be bigger or this blog's 'business' to be bigger? :P Thanks loads in advance for your reply!!
i always like the pizza here;)
Hello there Ruth. I still miss their Tiramisu.
->C & C: I haven't had the opportunity to try their pizzas (properly). We were only introduced to the Peking Duck pizza...which felt a 'lil weird to me!
->Simon Seow: I miss their tiramisu too!!! Oh gawd...the syiok smell & taste of rum-soaked 'sponge'! *drools* But it's expensive wei... :S
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