Revamped bar menus at California Pizza Kitchen sport hand-shaken cocktails like this California Roots drink—made with Svedka Vodka, fresh avocado and mint, fresh Agave Sour with a fennel salt rim. Photo courtesy CPK.
A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg
Trust me, I do realize that cool cocktails are not the first thing you think of when you think of California Pizza Kitchen, but a recent foray to check out their updated decor and menu (both of which are swell) yielded some surprisingly creative and fun libations on the cocktail menu, as well as in the kitchen!
We tasted a few different things, including my personal fave, the new California Crush, made with Absolut Mandarin, Absolut Citron, Muddled Mint and Fresh Orange and Lemon. It’s a perfect summery cocktail. It goes down easy with just enough tartness to make you go “yum!”
Fresh new cocktails from California Pizza Kitchen, photo by Leslie Dinaberg
Also quite tasty, the Hand-Shaken Agave Mojito, with Bacardi Superior Rum, Fresh Agave Sour, Fresh Mint and Lime and Organic Hawaiian Sugar Cane, and the super pretty Blueberry Ginger Smash, with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Monin Organic Agave Nectar, Domaine de Canton Ginger, Fresh Blueberries and Lime, and Cranberry Juice.
Certainly one of their most unique new items is the California Roots cocktail, which includes mashed avocado—as well as Svedka Vodka, fresh avocado and mint, and fresh Agave Sour with a fennel salt rim.
Blueberry Ginger Smash, courtesy CPK
California Pizza Kitchen (located here in Santa Barbara at 719 Paseo Nuevo) also has a nice, Seasonal Harvest Sangria, made with Bacardi Superior Rum, St. Germain Elderflower and Kendall Jackson Chardonnay with Muddled Grapes, Basil and fresh Agave Sour.
Their solid, California-focused wine list is also good and they offer a “wine adventure guarantee,” which means if you taste a new wine and aren’t thrilled, they’ll replace it for free. Not bad way to end (or start) a day of shopping at Paseo Nuevo!
Cheers!
Click here for more cocktail corner columns. Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 26, 2015.
When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinabergwrites magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”
