Meeting new moms can be hard. Meet 20 new moms all from different cities and circles can be incredibly hard (and even a little awkward)! But with the help of California Pizza Kitchen, the new Collin County Moms Blog contributors took what could have been an uncomfortable meetup and turned it into a memorable Moms Night Out with a favorite new pizza spot!
This past September, 25 Collin County women were selected as contributors for the new Collin County Moms Blog, City Moms Blog Network’s latest Texas sister site. (That’s us!) These mamas were selected because they represent the uniqueness of our area; different family sizes, viewpoints on motherhood, hobbies, life stories — no two moms are the same. And in most cases, many had never even met in passing.
After being briefly introduced to one another through a new private Facebook group, the time came before our Launch to meet in person. So when California Pizza Kitchen reached out and offered to host our first get-together, we gladly said, “Yes!”
Just like Collin County Moms Blog, California Pizza Kitchen was ready to (re)introduce themselves to area moms and families, and our event was the perfect fit! Within the last few months, CPK in The Shops at Willow Bend went through a huge remodel –both the structure of the restaurant and the menu to reflect their new seasonal inspirations.
California Pizza Kitchen’s fresh look and new culinary concepts, it was the perfect backdrop for 20+ strangers to meet one another for the first time!
The #NewCPK & A New Seasonal Menu
As our team slowly began to arrive, the staff at California Pizza Kitchen in The Shops at Willow Bend immediately impressed with their hospitality! Waiting for our contributors were trays of their newest cocktails for us to sample (and help ease the nervousness)! There were a variety of sangria including their Orchard & Red Berry, but the favorite drinks of the night had to be the Beehive Sangria & California Roots.
The Beehive Sangria is made of a sweet blend of white wine, Cointreau, Monin Lavendar, Perfect Puree, strawberry, honey, and a dash of lemon. Order this along with CPK’s new Quinoa + Arugula Salad, and it made the perfect pairing!
The California Roots is a refreshing Svedka Vodka cocktail made with fresh avocado & mint, fresh agave sour, and finished off with a fennel salt rim. Don’t be intimidated by the thought of avocado flavor in your drink because it was delicious!
By the time, starters came around, those of us who could attend the event had all arrived. Plates of Brussels + Bacon Flatbread and Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower were being passed around like it was Thanksgiving dinner. . .only better!?
If you’re the type who gets nervous about trying new food combinations or flavors, then the California Pizza Kitchen’s new seasonal menu should be where you start to explore your taste pallet! Using traditional and popular ingredients, CPK has created a menu that stretches the imagination, but isn’t intimidating for a “picky” eater.
The Brussels + Bacon Flatbread had a sprinkle of roasted Brussels sprouts and Applewood smoked bacon (yum!) on top of a with creamy goat cheese and Romano cheese on a hearth-baked flatbread.
If you’re a fan of Buffalo chicken, the Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower will surprise your taste buds in a good way! This dish includes fresh cauliflower florets fried in buttermilk batter, tossed in a house made Sriracha buffalo sauce and topped with celery, Gorgonzola, and cilantro!
Around the time we were getting ready to enjoy our main dishes, CPK’s head chef at The Shops at Willow Bend pulled us all over for a fun, ice breaker experience to really help our new group bond. If you’ve never tossed your own pizza dough, then it’s an experience you’ll want to try at least once — it’s harder than it looks!
Throughout the night, the food kept coming and we were able to sample some familiar pies. This season, CPK has brought back their popular Carne Asada Pizza. Tender marinated steak with fire-roasted poblanos, cilantro pesto, yellow onions, Mozzarella & Monterrey Jack…it lived up to the hype!
In addition, our team loved the Wild Mushroom Pizza — for those who prefer their pizza without the meat — and the Fire-Grilled Ribeye and Hearth-Roasted Halibut were beyond our expectations for “a pizza restaurant”. CPK proved that they take just as much pride in their Main Plates and Pastas as they do their Pizzas.
The California Pizza Kitchen at the Shops at Willow Bend did such a fabulous job of hosting our new Collin County Moms Blog contributor team. More than provide us with a meal, the CPK team gave us a unique experience we’re sure to never forget! Especially the Salted Caramel Pudding and Butter Cake!
Normally, this type of treatment and experiences are often just lived through media posts like these, but this was just a glimpse at some of the party options California Pizza Kitchen offers to the public!
Book Your Birthday with CPK!
If you’re looking for a unique event option for your children’s birthday parties, corporate team building, or school groups, California Pizza Kitchen would love to host you!
Booking dates and times will vary depending on restaurant availability, but for children’s birthday parties, the restaurant will set up a little cooking station where kids can craft their own pizza! Each child will have a CPKids goodie box to take home, and the Birthday Boy/Girl will have a special gift for themselves. The CPK staff will take care of everything from food to favors, and parents can relax and enjoy!
New Faces, New Friends
By the end of the night, our group was chatting like we were all old friends who’d come around the table for a meal. The newly remodeled restaurant created the perfect backdrop for a Moms Night Out event we hope to recreate soon.
You can get to know these new Faces of Collin County Moms Blog too! Simply follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and be sure to sign up for our Weekly Subscriber Newsletter to receive the daily content written by these amazing local moms.
In the meantime, grab your spouses or your favorite group of girlfriends and head over to California Pizza Kitchen to experience the #newCPK at a location near you:
California Pizza Kitchen
Berkshire :: 8411 Preston Rd., Ste. 124, Dallas 75225
Grapevine :: 1051 State Highway 114, Grapevine 76051
Stonebriar :: 2601 Preston Rd., Ste. 2221, Frisco, TX 75034
Willow Bend :: 6121 W. Park Blvd, SP.D-126, Plano 75093
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
