Review: California Pizza Kitchen, Dubai Mall
A colleague who recently dined at California Pizza Kitchen confided in me that she found it to be ‘the best pizza in Dubai’. As evidence she submitted the fact that her boyfriend (who claims Italian roots, 
albeit second generation) thought it was ‘the most authentic pizza outside of Italy’. I was doubtful (it is called California Pizza Kitchen, after all). Furthermore, CPK is an American chain that launched in 1985 on the heels of a California pizza revolution forged by the likes of American celebrity chefs Alice Waters and then Wolfgang Puck.
Basically, California-style pizza is unique, just as New York and Sicilian pizza are. It’s thin, it’s usually single portion and it’s known for its unusual toppings. In other words, California pizzas really are nothing like Italian pizzas. Still, after gentle urging from a few different and self-proclaimed pizza aficionados,
I decided that I’d give the place a lunchtime visit…
this concoction could only have come from the American west coast. It wasn’t bad. My companion had opted for the thinner ‘Neapolitan’ crust, which was flaky and crisp. Sliced red onions and some deliciously hammy flavoured gouda combined nicely (the result was a bite that tasted like canned smoke), but the syrupy barbecue sauce made for one saccharin savoury…
The result was, yes, very nice pizzas, but not in the simple, rustic way you picture in Italy, where the only toppings you need are some excellent mozzarella and a ripe tomato. Still, for an American pizza chain in the basement of The Dubai Mall, it hit the spot…MORE
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Tags: Alice Waters, American Celebrity, American Pizza, Barbecue Sauce, Best Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, California Style, Canned Smoke, Celebrity Chefs, Concoction, Italian Pizzas, Italian Roots, Lunchtime, Mozzarella, Pizza Chain, Red Onions, Ripe Tomato, Saccharin, Sicilian Pizza, Style Pizza
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I seriously do not know why we people here in the UAE continue to listen to the British about food. Honestly, what would they know about good pizza! The best pizza in the world is the 'real' American stuff. Get a grip!
Try Pizza Cento in International City for authentic Italian style pizza. They deliver to all surrounding areas including Al Warqa, Mirdiff, Garhound, Rashydia, Nad al Hamar, Arabian Ranches, Silicon Oasis. Call 04 422 1253 or visit http://www.pizzacento.com.