California Pizza Kitchen is giving the people what they want: cauliflower pizza crust
On grocery store shelves and Pinterest boards across the nation, a trend has sprouted. Literally. The cruciferous vegetable that is cauliflower is being turned on its head, chopped, sautéed, mashed, breaded, and baked into a form that no longer looks like its own. It is making culinary creatives shun the potato in favor of a mash that boasts an earthier flavor. It is being used as a meat substitute in vegetarian households that occasionally (and begrudgingly) crave a bright orange buffalo wing without the, well, wing. Cauliflower is even being transformed into a health-conscious pizza crust — not just in homes and Trader Joe’s — but in restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen.
“Cauliflower has proven itself to be this amazing powerhouse ingredient – it’s healthful, it’s extremely versatile, and best of all, it’s delicious,” says Brian Sullivan, CPK’s Senior Vice President of Culinary Innovation, according to People. “As cauliflower’s popularity continues to soar, alongside a demand for vegetable-centric meal options on the whole, we were inspired to put our creative California twist to the trend.”
A post shared by California Pizza Kitchen (@californiapizzakitchen) on Nov 29, 2017 at 11:53am PST
Of course, cauliflower’s popularity isn’t unfounded. The vegetable is one of earth’s multivitamins. According to Dr. Mercola, it holds 77% of our recommended daily value of vitamin C, while also containing vitamin K, protein, magnesium, fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and more. When it comes to pizza dough, cauliflower is an alternative that is lower in carbs and touts the label “gluten-free.”
As the first national restaurant brand to add cauliflower pizza crust to its menu, California Pizza Kitchen is keeping up its tradition of innovation. Though the crust is currently being sold for an extra $2.50 at select Southern California establishments — Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Rainbow Harbor — it will be available at all nationwide locations early next year.
A post shared by California Pizza Kitchen (@californiapizzakitchen) on Nov 8, 2016 at 11:28am PST
Perhaps CPK can also stand for Cauliflower Pizza Kitchen? No? Just us? Okay.
