It’s so California — and just right for the postholiday lettuce-nibbler who considers conventional pizza too heavy after the Twelve Days of Noshmas. The caramelized pear-and-Gorgonzola pizza ($9.29) at California Pizza Kitchen (1705 Post Oak Boulevard, 713-963-9262) is a whisper of a pizza, with translucent slices of caramelized pears and onions arranged on its thin, crispy crust like a large flower pattern on a dinner plate. The baked Gorgonzola bites gently, melted as it is with creamy mozzarella and fontina. Toasted hazelnuts balance the chewy, gooey cheeses with a little crunch. The pizza, which arrives before you’re tempted to check your watch, comes topped with a salad of field greens tossed in an herby ranch dressing. That’s the best part: You can still say you had a salad for lunch.
This article appears in Dec 27, 2001 – Jan 2, 2002.