California Pizza Kitchen

[elless]

For those of you that have one of these around you, I highly recommend checking them out. I had the most wonderful experience here tonight. This chain recently has developed a separate gluten free pizza menu. Not only are they delicious, but every item on the menu is prepared in a separate kitchen and all gluten free items are color coded to avoid contamination. The manager is even required to bring each pizza out to the table to make sure you get exactly what you asked for. I had the bbq chicken pizza, no cheese. (dairy free) This was so delicious!

[kareng]

So funny. I just now got back from CPK! Put my iPad on and what do I see?

Had a lovely large glass of Pinot noir and a margharita pizza. They asked if it was " allergy" or " dietary preference". I wish they would change that to " medical need" but it was great! Very limited menu. The gluten-free menu is just the 4 pizzas. On the regular menu there are some salads marked.

[elless]

You can make any of the pizzas on a gluten free crust, but only the pizzas on the menu are made in the separate kitchen. I really hope they expand the menu a bit. It sounds like this is new so I'm hopeful. If not, bbq is my favorite, so I'm good either way.

[kareng]

They keep the ingredients separate. That's why it's a limited number of ingredients.

[Tricia7]

For those of you that have one of these around you, I highly recommend checking them out. I had the most wonderful experience here tonight. This chain recently has developed a separate gluten free pizza menu. Not only are they delicious, but every item on the menu is prepared in a separate kitchen and all gluten free items are color coded to avoid contamination. The manager is even required to bring each pizza out to the table to make sure you get exactly what you asked for. I had the bbq chicken pizza, no cheese. (dairy free) This was so delicious!

 

hmm.. I am guessing they don't all have a separate kitchen because their website version of their gluten-free menu says 

 

"Please note that normal kitchen  operations involve shared cooking and preparation areas and guests  should consider individual dietary needs when ordering. "

 

Open Original Shared Link

[elless]

No. They only have a separate kitchen dedicated for the items on their gluten free pizza list. There are other gluten-free items marked on the menu, and every pizza can be made gluten free, but they can't be made in the kitchen for space reasons. They claim they still take percaustions.

[kareng]

hmm.. I am guessing they don't all have a separate kitchen because their website version of their gluten-free menu says 

 

"Please note that normal kitchen  operations involve shared cooking and preparation areas and guests  should consider individual dietary needs when ordering. "

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Maybe the one near the Op  has room for a separate kitchen but that is not the norm.  They have special training and certification.  They have a separate area or counter.  The reason they only offer a limited number of toppings for true gluten-free pizza is because they can't realistically have a duplicate container of every ingredient  set aside for the few gluten-free pizzas they make.  That would be wasteful and take up a lot of space.  There are articles around from when they started offering gluten-free pizza under this GIG certification.

 

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/104625-california-pizza-kitchen-promises-celiac-safe-gluten-free-pizza-investorplacecom/

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

But the point is - they do a very good job on offering gluten-free pizza - and its yummy!

[cap6]

Just make sure that you say you are an allergy (they understand allergy as opposed to medical) as the handling of the pizza is slightly different from those who are gluten free by choice. 

[MycasMommy]

I asked specifically what were the ingredients in the crust made from.  The waitress went and asked the manager.  The only answer I got back was it is Rice flour.  I only react to rice once in a while (gliadins are really low) and so I gave it a whirl.  They did, indeed, have a separate, plexi glass enclosed, little area of the counter with all its own specific untensils and ingredients.

 

The pizza came... from the waitress,not the manager. looked great. I was SO excited.  I never get to eat out.  It tasted "okay" initially.  I have had better experiments at home with coconut flour.  Anyway... it was not bad either.  3 bites in though.. my eyes began to water, my nose started running, and so I patiently waited for what follows and set down the pizza.  I quietly crept to the bathroom.  Thankfully it was empty ...and vomitted the mucous covered bites that would not stay down. I was cryihng when I returned to the table.  My family knew what happened and everyone, including myself, was so excited that I was OUT and eating.

[kareng]

I eat there often. It is very safe for Celiacs. it sounds like you have issues other than Celiac from some of your other posts.

I think the crust is mainly rice and potato last I looked.

[GlutenStinks15]

I eat there so often - thankfully I've never had a problem. The BBQ Chicken is my favorite as well. If you sit by the bar area, you can watch them prepare your pizza. When it comes out of the oven and onto your plate it goes DIRECTLY into the manager's hands to be delivered straight to the table. No chance for any CC or mix ups.

[heliosue]

Thanks for the Pizza Kitchen heads up.  I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself because eating out is now looking like a pipe dream.  I am only 2 weeks into my diagnosis with Celiac and keeping hoping it's a mistake.

[murphy203]

This is super-useful to know -- I need to find places for lunches out with my friends! 

[Gemini]

Thanks for the Pizza Kitchen heads up.  I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself because eating out is now looking like a pipe dream.  I am only 2 weeks into my diagnosis with Celiac and keeping hoping it's a mistake.

You are allowed a small time frame for feeling sorry for yourself but I can really assure you........you will be able to eat out again, probably in time for summer, if you follow the diet strictly and let your gut heal.  You will learn, over time, how to eat out and what places are safe for you.  I have been doing this for 10 years and my life feels completely normal and like everyone else's who do not have Celiac.  There are many safe places to eat for us nowadays and I say that as a very sensitive Celiac.

Hang in there........it will get better!

[GlutenStinks15]

Thanks for the Pizza Kitchen heads up.  I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself because eating out is now looking like a pipe dream.  I am only 2 weeks into my diagnosis with Celiac and keeping hoping it's a mistake.

Please don't be discouraged. As you proceed you will see that you really can eat out and feel normal. I was diagnosed two years ago and I went through the grief stages (for lack of a better phrase.) It WILL get easier. I promise! 

 

And we are all here to support you. 

[murphy203]

First meal out since my diagnosis. It was great -- except the waitress threw the leftovers in with husband's normal pizza. Boo....

[kareng]

First neal out since my diagnosis. It was great -- except the waitress through the leftovers in with husband's normal pizza. Boo....

 

 

I NEVER let the waitress package my left-overs!  I always ask for a box and do it myself.  I just say "We gluten-free people are a bit odd that way".

[heliosue]

Finally tried a California Pizza Kitchen in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and was pretty disappointed.  I do think that the pizza was gluten free, but the pizza was almost cold when it was served and maybe just because I'm pretty new to the gluten-free type products, I really, really didn't like the pizza crust - very corn tasting and the texture just wasn't right.  After some more time passes, perhaps I won't be so judgemental, but right now, I think I will not add CPK to my list of go to places. 

[LauraTX]

Pizza/Bread can be one of the hardest things to adapt to when going to gluten-free.  Of course it being cold is not a gluten-free thing, LOL.  

[kareng]

Finally tried a California Pizza Kitchen in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and was pretty disappointed.  I do think that the pizza was gluten free, but the pizza was almost cold when it was served and maybe just because I'm pretty new to the gluten-free type products, I really, really didn't like the pizza crust - very corn tasting and the texture just wasn't right.  After some more time passes, perhaps I won't be so judgemental, but right now, I think I will not add CPK to my list of go to places.

Cold is not good. I am pretty sure there is no corn in the crust, it's rice and potato. It's very thin and rather tasteless. The cheese, sauce, etc is what is tasty.

[MycasMommy]

I have been informed that the crust is made of Rice But I am pretty sure it has some corn syrup solids like Udi's breads. I did not taste corn when I had it.  It did make me sick though. I cannot wait to give it another go when I attempt corn products again in a few months. My daughter is working there now.  When she gets home tomight I will ask her if she can find out the specifics tomorrow if you like>?

[MycasMommy]

Cold is not good. I am pretty sure there is no corn in the crust, it's rice and potato. It's very thin and rather tasteless. The cheese, sauce, etc is what is tasty.

 

 

Yep order extra sauce, cheese, and toppings! hahaha

[heliosue]

I have been informed that the crust is made of Rice But I am pretty sure it has some corn syrup solids like Udi's breads. I did not taste corn when I had it.  It did make me sick though. I cannot wait to give it another go when I attempt corn products again in a few months. My daughter is working there now.  When she gets home tomight I will ask her if she can find out the specifics tomorrow if you like>?

That would be great!  Thanks.

[heliosue]

If and when I try again, I'll be sure to order extra stuff on top, although if it's as cold as the one I had the other day, it won't help.

I was probably incorrect about the corn taste.  My taste buds still haven't acclimated to the taste of other flours. Thanks for the responses.

[MycasMommy]

Daughter texted me.  The ingredients in the crust are rice flour, potato flour, tapioca, salt, extra virgin olive oil and cane sugar.