California Pizza Kitchen

Dining chain California Pizza Kitchen Inc. on Monday posted a slight decline in second-quarter profit as cost growth kept pace with rising sales. For the quarter ended July 2, earnings fell to $6 million, or 30 cents a share, from $6.2 million, or 32 cents, in the year-earlier period. Operating income rose to $8.7 million from $7.8 million. Sales increased 14% to $136.2 million from $119.4 million in the year-earlier quarter. Expenses rose 14% to $108.6 million.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. boosted its third-quarter earnings forecast by a penny because of better-than-expected sales at its pizza restaurants. The Los Angeles-based restaurant chain said it expected quarterly earnings to be 33 cents to 34 cents a share, based on a 15% rise in revenue to $142.8 million and a 5.6% rise in same-restaurant sales. California Pizza Kitchen previously had forecast earnings of 32 cents to 33 cents a share for the quarter ended Oct. 1.

Money manager Ronald Baron reported that his investment funds and accounts have purchased a 10.2% stake in L.A.-based California Pizza Kitchen Inc. (ticker symbol: CPKI). The Baron funds hold 1.8 million common shares, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They purchased 1.7 million of these shares during the second quarter. California Pizza Kitchen operates 121 restaurants, including 90 that are company-owned. The company's shares fell $1.20 to close at $20.

Wall Street got a taste of California pizza Wednesday--and liked it. Shares of Los Angeles-based California Pizza Kitchen soared $5.25, or 35%, to $20.25 on their first day of trading on Nasdaq. The firm's initial public offering of 5.3 million shares was priced at $15 late Tuesday. The bulk of the money raised will go to pay debt at the firm, which operates 83 CPK restaurants and 24 CPK ASAP sites domestically and abroad.

This week's Culinary SOS request comes from Janelle Webb in Bakersfield: "My co-worker raves about the chicken tequila fettucine from California Pizza Kitchen . Her birthday is coming up in February, and we would like to make the dish for a girls' night in to celebrate. Do you have the recipe?" Happy birthday to your friend, and have fun celebrating! California Pizza Kitchen was happy to share its recipe, which you can find below. And check out more Culinary SOS recipes . If you have a favorite restaurant recipe you'd like to request, email me . I'll do my best to track it down.

Southern California-based restaurant chains Jack in the Box Inc. and California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said earnings will be lower than expected as diners stayed away from restaurants after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The chain operators also cited economic uncertainty, already weighing on some U.S. restaurants before the attacks, as a factor pressuring earnings. Shares of San Diego-based Jack in the Box fell $5, or 18%, to close at $23 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Advertiser: California Pizza Kitchen Agency: Colby Effler & Partners, Santa Monica Challenge: Grab attention of consumers on a low budget. The Ads: A billboard campaign concentrated mostly in West Los Angeles and the Valley uses offbeat humor to grab consumers' attention. "They prefer you lay off the garlic pizza before your appointment," says a sign above a Western California Dental office. An ad above Holiday Carpet Co.

Menu improvements and increased sales helped California Pizza Kitchen Inc. post an 18% jump in second-quarter profit Thursday. The Los Angeles-based chain of 168 premium pizza restaurants earned $5.2 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with $4.4 million, or 23 cents, a year earlier. The results beat forecasts of 25 cents a share. Revenue climbed 17% to $102.5 million. Sales at restaurants open at least a year rose 6.6%.