California Pizza Kitchen’s ‘Swicy’ (Sweet and Spicy) Moment

When you think of California Pizza Kitchen, do you think…swicy? (That’s “sweet and spicy” for the uninitiated.) Sweet and spicy is one of the hottest trends in food right now, and CPK is all in on that trend.

That’s right – CPK – as in, the place where you bring your kids to eat pizzas and mac and cheese and everyone is happy. But CPK is actually so much more than that – menu-wise and beyond. In fact, right now, CPK is having an extremely “swicy” moment: They are hitting that sweet spot with hot new food options, and they are out there wildly trending on social media.

Take this recent example from social media: A young woman complained in a widely viewed TikTok this summer about having ordered CPK’s mac & cheese for delivery. To her dismay, she received only… the cheese.

CPK immediately jumped into action, following up with their own viral TikTok (currently at 12 million-plus views and counting). The video featured Chef Paul Pszybylski, CPK’s VP of culinary innovation, humorously explaining how mac & cheese is supposed to be cooked. (“One: Cook the cheese. Two: Cook the mac. Three: Add the mac to the cheese.“)

As penance for the error, CPK then offered everyone half off mac & cheese for the rest of July using the playfully named code “cheeseANDmac.”

And then there’s that “swicy” food part…

In a new collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey, CPK is now offering a Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza. This “swicy” pizzas features crispy chicken, ranchito sauce, and mozzarella all baked together. Next, it’s topped with cayenne seasoning, dill pickles and Mike’s Hot Honey (extra-hot, in this case).

“We’re long-time fans of Mike’s Hot Honey, which is why we set out to give our guests an unexpected pizza collaboration like no other,” said Pszybylski. “Since we love fusing flavors and cuisines together, we knew hot chicken and hot honey should come together to make the next great pizza.”

Mike Kurtz of Mike’s Hot Honey apparently thinks so too. “California Pizza Kitchen is known for its innovative approach to pizza and pushing boundaries. We’re thrilled to add a unique sweet kick to their latest creation,” he said in a statement. “We’re excited that our Extra Hot is the star of the pizza, marking the first time it’s been featured in a collaboration.”

We found this pizza absolutely delightful. It was just sweet enough that the mild palates among us liked it. Plus, it was spicy enough to satisfy the hot food lovers in our house.

CPK’s Nashville Hot Honey Pizza will be available through the end of September.

Beyond the “swicy” pizza, you’ll notice a tempting lineup of other new menu items for the season, including:

Tostada Pizza: Lettuce, tortilla strips, scallions, housemade herb ranch, and roasted tomato salsa top this crispy thin crust. CPK finishes it off with layers of black beans, Queso Quesadilla and Monterey Jack cheeses.

Neapolitan Burrata Pizza: This pizza features Neapolitan tomato sauce, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan with creamy burrata, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil.

Shaking Beef Pasta: This recipe features beef filet bites tossed in garlic-sesame soy sauce. CPK serves it over spaghetti with sliced onions and scallions; topped with serrano peppers and a fresh herb salad of cilantro, basil, and mint.

Summer Fruit Sangria: Belleruche Rosé, fresh lemonade, strawberries, and Grey Goose Vodka is a refreshing summer drink. CPK serves it chilled and garnished with fresh watermelon and a sprig of mint.

In addition to these new items, there are of course many crowd-pleasing favorite on the CPK menu. Not ready to branch out and try something new just yet? Maybe you’ll stick with the classic Mac & Cheese… that is to say, cheese with the mac, of course.

Looking back to the early years, former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax created California Pizza Kithen in Beverly Hills in 1985. They first introduced innovative California-style pizza with the invention of The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza. Nearly 40 years later, CPK continues to reimagine California creativity, pushing culinary boundaries with a long list of industry-firsts including gluten-free crust and cauliflower crust options for its pizzas.

CPK is a global brand serving California cuisine. The company has restaurants in nearly 200 restaurants worldwide, 12 international cities, and 11 countries and U.S. territories. To find your nearest California Pizza Kitchen, see their list of CPK locations.

Blogger disclosure: CPK provided us with a special tasting event and gift bag. All opinions expressed are our own.