At the first Pizza Wars, chefs from various California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) branches competed for P25,000.00 in cash and for their creative pizza to be included in CPK Philippines’ menu.
The finals, held at CPK in BGC, pitted three chefs and their three entry pizzas, each with very distinct taste profiles, against each other. The judges had a hard time. Bloggers, who were served all three “contestant” pizzas, had a “vote” – if their vote aligned with the judges’ decision, they take home the winning pizza (freshly cooked, of course).
Let’s go meet the chefs
L-R: Chef Lea Castillones from CPK Eastwood, Chef Romel Panaligan from CPK Alabang, and Chef John Chloe Oplejeda from CPK TriNoma.
And here are the pizzas
Each of the “contestant” pizzas is hard to say no to.
Chef Lea Castillones’ Steak with Mushroom + Truffles Pizza: Mozzarella, fresh Mozzarella, wild mushroom, with truffle sauce and grilled steak. Our take on it: it has a woodsy flavor because of the mushrooms, and the hint of Truffle cream is very addictive. If you see this on the menu, you already have a good idea of how it tastes – but it will exceed your expectations! It’s an easy go-to favorite. We can order this everyday.
Chef Romel Panaligan’s vegetarian pizza, Farmer’s Choice. Roasted squash base topped with Mozzarella, Fresh Mozzarella, grilled eggplant and zucchini, cherry tomatoes and desiccated coconut. Our take on it: it’s very close to ginataang Pinakbet, but in pizza form (clever!) and the aroma and flavor summon fond memories of your childhood. It tastes like home. Wow. Of the three, this is the most emotionally satisfying pizza. You know how you have your selection of feel-good movies? This here is your feel-good pizza.
Chef John Chloe Oplejeda’s The Elvis, a dessert pizza, inspired by the King of Rock & Roll’s favorite sandwich; it has peanut sauce, Mozzarella, crispy bacon, banana topped with candied walnuts and peanut butter gelato. Our take on it: it’s like you’re ten years old and you want every kind of dessert to be rolled into one, and in one plate and in a pizza. Well, here you go. The more the ice cream gets absorbed by the crust, the better it tastes. Incredible.
Meet the Judges…in action
Left to right, and tasting the competing pizzas: Chef Rolando Laudico, Griffith Go (GRCI CFO), and Archie Rodriguez (GRCI President & CEO).
Guess who won?
Farmer’s Choice (vegetarian pizza) by Chef Romel Panaligan of CPK Alabang got the highest marks from the judges – and it’s what we at SwirlingOverCoffee also voted to win; which means we also took home boxes of the same pizza, but freshly cooked by Chef Romel. What a great day it was for everyone.
L-R: Archie Rodriguez (GRCI President & CEO), 1st CPK Pizza War Winner Chef Romel Panaligan, Chef Rolando Laudico, and Griffith Go (GRCI CFO).
Visit California Pizza
For more updates, connect with CPK Philippines at http://www.facebook.com/CPKPhilippines, @CPKPhilippines in Twitter & Instagram or visit their location in Greenbelt 5, Shangri-la Plaza, Greenhills Promenade, Eastwood, Rockwell, Bonifacio Global City, Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, and Century City Mall.
(L-R) Daniel Wilson (Int’l Franchise Brand Ambassador), Luisa Del Rosario (Sr. Operations Director), Archie Rodriguez (GRCI President & CEO, Contest Judge), Romel Panaligan (1st CPK Pizza War Winner), Chef Rolando Laudico (Contest Judge), Griffith Go (GRCI CFO, Contest Judge)
All photos by Irwin Allen Rivera
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