In this time of economic crisis, spending can sometimes be seen as a luxury. Unless something is really needed, that is the only time that one’s peso is spent. Meanwhile, owning a credit card presents itself as an alternative in terms of purchasing something in an instant, while buying some time to actually pay for it– until the billing statement comes. And while paying for the purchases can hurt a bit, nothing beats getting additional perks from making credit card purchases. It somehow lessens the guilt of having to spend on something.

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has partnered with credit card giant Citibank to give its cardholders exclusive perks. For a minimum food purchase of P2000.00, guests who use their Citicards at CPK can enjoy a FREE Dish of the Month. This January, guests who would pay for their CPK food purchases will get a Thai Chicken Pizza to go with the rest their CPK dishes.

The Citibank World Privileges with CPK runs from February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011. Cardholders can get this exclusive freebie from all branches of CPK: Glorietta 3, Alabang, Shangri-La, Greenhills, Rockwell, TriNoma, and Greenbelt 5.

This February, while most will be excited for Valentine’s Day, kids, who are too young to appreciate this special day, can still celebrate something else. This month is also known to many as the International Friendship Month.

According to the dictionary, “friendship” is the quality or condition of being friends, a friendly relationship, or the state of being friends. Most adult friendships, the ones that last, are usually the friendships that were built from childhood. This is an idea that California Pizza Kitchen would like to inculcate to its CPKids club members and to their friends.

With “Proud to be Friends, Proud to be CPKids” Friendship month celebration, CPK would like their CPKids and their friends to share something in common, among many other things. CPKids club members are encouraged to invite their friends to join CPKids club by bringing them to the store’s friendship month celebration, happening every Saturday of February. Each Saturday comes with a theme and friends can come in costume, which is sure to make the day more enjoyable and exciting for the kids. There will be games, activities, and goodies, especially for the new CPKids members. Moreover, part of friendship is maintaining and developing new friendships; and coming to parties, like these from CPK, is one way to meet other kids.

The CPKids Friendship Month activity happens every Saturday in February, 3-5pm. For inquiries, call any of the CPK branches: Glorietta (8939898), Alabang (8505771), Shangri-La (6877841), TriNoma (9013881), Greenhills (7257377), Rockwell (8953447), and Greenbelt 5 (4017160).

Filipinos are known to love food; and this passion for good food is often coupled with great company. Whether they are just having a small dinner at home or going out to enjoy a night in the town, food is, and will always be, a part of the Filipinos’ way of getting together.

The idea of pairing wine with some well-loved dishes can be quite daunting to some since most Filipinos as are more familiar with having their dishes with familiar drinks, either soda, juice or iced tea. But what is enlightening about wines is their ability to make or break the dish it is partnered with. The choice of wine can determine what kind of taste the person would like to bring out from the dish. Having wine to go with one’s meals also stimulates the senses, making the dining experience more enjoyable and memorable. From the appearance to the smell and finally to its taste, having wine even with just a regular meal can make a whole lot of difference, but ultimately, it has to complement the dish.

This February, California Pizza Kitchen is giving its guests the experience of having CPK dishes paired with select wines. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this wine pairing activity is ideal especially for those who are still planning on how they want to spend this all-important day. For P595, guests can enjoy a featured CPK dish and a glass wine that will take their dining experience to a whole new different level, compared to their usual soda or iced tea. Aside from the most basic “like-colors-go-together” guideline, which suggests that red or brown dishes go well with red wines and light-colored dishes go with white wines, guests are also in to discover which wines they should go for when they want a certain flavour to stand out in a specific dish.

The CPK wine pairing is scheduled every Thursday of February, 6pm-9pm. Wines are provided by Happy Living Corporation, Philippines and Premium Wine Exchange. For inquiries, call any of the CPK branches: Glorietta (8939898), Alabang (8505771), Shangri-La (6877841), TriNoma (9013881), Greenhills (7257377), Rockwell (8953447), and Greenbelt 5 (4017160).

The New Year always brings in a mixture of emotions. This suggests two things, a time of looking back and a time of looking forward. For every Filipino, 2009 was bittersweet. There were triumphant times and there were moments of despair. The two typhoons that hit the country seemed to dampen, literally, major parts of the country. Yet, these same events showed the survival spirit of the Filipino and our willingness to come together in times of trouble. There was worldwide concern and assistance and there was even more accolade regarding our ability to rebuild our communities quickly. A Filipino’s pride restored during the most trying of times. That was 2009 leading to 2010.

Celebrating the turn of another year gives everyone a hope that things are always going to get better. People set personal goals and expectations to motivate them to succeed. The new year lends itself to change for the better.

To start the year right, California Pizza Kitchen is giving its guests the go-to dessert. Tiramisu, an Italian term for “pick me up” is just perfect for what it does. It’s a great reward to oneself for a job well done and, just as its name suggests, it’s a pick-me-up dessert that can motivate someone to do better.

Guests can enjoy a free serving of tiramisu when they order from a selection of CPK’s Neapolitan pizzas or Specialty dishes. This sweet treat to start the year runs from January 11 until February 22, 2010. Promo is available in all CPK branches.

For inquiries on reservation or delivery, call California Pizza Kitchen at 867-2115 to 16 (Glorietta 3), 850-5771 (Cortes de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center), 687-7841 to 42 (Shangri-La Plaza Mall), 725-7377 (Greenhills Promenade), 901-3881 to 82 (Trinoma), 895-3447 (Power Plant Mall, Rockwell) and 401-7160/572-5965 (Greenbelt 5).