New Recommendation Index(SM) Study Identifies Brands Most Recommended by U.S. Consumers

LOS ANGELES, CA – December 15, 2009 – California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (NASDAQ: CPKI), a leading casual dining chain featuring an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, was recently named the “#1 Most Recommended Casual Dining Chain” restaurant in a newly created Recommendation Index research study.

The Recommendation Index, introduced by marketing firms Zocalo Group and M/A/R/C® Research, was compiled after surveying more than 1,000 frequent casual dining customers in the United States about which brands they most often recommended positively and negatively, and the specific attributes they look for when making their recommendations. Online conversations occurring organically on Twitter, blogs, forums, video sites, and other discussion venues were also examined and included in the overall analysis.

“We are honored to be recognized and chosen as the most recommended casual dining brand by consumers in the United States,” said Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, CO-CEO’s of California Pizza Kitchen. “It is our goal to provide exceptional customer service, great food and a comfortable dining experience at an affordable cost. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff in-house and team members out on the field, as well as the loyalty of our guests. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to all of our customers who continue to make CPK a regular dining destination.”

California Pizza Kitchen led the Casual Dining Restaurant (CDR) Category with an Index score of 4.57, which represents the number of people positively recommending the brand for every one person with a negative recommendation. The average Index score in the CDR Category is 3.01.

To make this year’s Christmas more memorable, enter CPK’s Christmas Photo Contest and earn bragging rights as the funniest and most creative photo. It’s so easy.

To register:
1. Open to all residents in the Philippines with Facebook accounts.
2. Employees of CPK Philippines are excluded from joining this activity.
3. Contest opens on December 5 and ends on December 25.
4. To participate, you should become a fan of California Pizza Kitchen. http://www.facebook.com/CPKPhilippines

Photo requirements:
1. Photo should be holiday-themed. It should be funny, creative and family-friendly.
2. Original photos only. The person submitting the photo should own it.
3. One entry per person. File should be in jpeg not exceeding 1mb.
4. To upload the photo, go to the tab “What’s on your mind?” and click attach “photo” icon below it.
5. To judge the winning entry, CPK Philippines fans will vote for their favourite photo by clicking “Like”. Top 5 photos with most number of likes will be chosen. The photo with the highest number of votes will be declared winner on December 28.
6. Prizes include CPK gift certificates.
7. Winners will be notified of the details where to claim their prizes (preferably at the CPK branch near them).
8. To claim their prizes, present a printed copy of their Facebook profile page.
9. CPK Philippines reserves the right to use the winning photos for commercial purposes for unlimited time.

Christmas can mean a lot of things to people. For some, it is about being with family, friends and loved ones. For others, it can be about the joy of giving. But to many, Christmas is really meant for children. Kids love the holiday season. To them it is about giving and getting presents; and Santa Claus epitomizes the spirit of giving.

Santa Claus is considered as one of the most famous figures in the world. Especially to kids. He is usually pictured as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat aboard a reindeer sleigh. For many, he symbolizes good cheer, forgiveness, hope, and sharing. His trait as the bearer of gifts during Christmas is popular among kids. Months before Christmas, children write their letters to Santa telling him of how good they have been all year and what they wish for Christmas as a reward. The moment of anticipation grows until Christmas Eve, which is believed to be the time Santa arrives to deliver presents. All kids, eager to get a glimpse of Santa, try and brave midnight through morning just to peak at the Jolly generous fellow in red.

This December, the tables are turned because kids no longer have to wait for Santa. Instead, Santa Claus is waiting for them in California Pizza Kitchen, all weekends of December. Meet and greet Santa while you celebrate the Holidays and feast on your favorite CPK dishes. Santa comes bearing Christmas treats too so when you come and take a picture with Santa around the Christmas tree, he has something special for you.

Santa Claus will be at the following CPK branches all weekends of December; Saturdays in Glorietta (4-7pm), Shangri-la (2-5pm), Trinoma (2-5pm) and Sundays in Alabang Town Center (2-5pm), Rockwell (2-5pm), Greenbelt 5 (2-5pm), and Greenhills (4-7pm).

Every Christmas, loved ones get together and celebrate; which makes it the perfect time to take photos and make the moments last.

Over the years, sharing Christmas photos have evolved from your traditional picture album, or the holiday family photo greeting card, to a creative scrapbook, and, finally, in today’s digital age, social networking internet sites.

Technology has made preserving photos much easier. In fact, it has also made sharing simpler and more accessible. The popular Facebook is a perfect place to exhibit the artist in you. And this is exactly what CPK Philippines is giving to its Facebook fans. This December, fans of the CPK Philippines Facebook Page are invited to join the photo contest and earn bragging rights as this year’s Fan Favorite Christmas photo. Fans with the most unique, funny, creative, out of the ordinary, family-friendly Christmas photos are encouraged to go to www.faceboook.com/CPKPhilippines and upload their pictures. Fans can vote by clicking “Like” and the five (5) photos with the most number of likes will win special prizes from CPK Philippines.

The CPK Philippines Fan Photo contest runs from December 5 to December 25, 2009. Complete promo mechanics are in CPK Philippines Facebook Fan Page or visit www.cpk.com.ph for more details.