{"product_id":"the-california-pizza-kitchen-story-how-two-federal-prosecutors-changed-the-way-america-eats-pizza-9798900262321","title":"The California Pizza Kitchen Story: How Two Federal Prosecutors Changed the Way America Eats Pizza","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe California Pizza Kitchen Story: How Two Federal Prosecutors Changed the Way America Eats Pizza\u003c\/em\u003e is a candid business memoir that traces the unlikely journey from federal courtrooms to the creation of one of the most influential brands in modern casual dining.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore co-founding California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), Rick Rosenfield built his career as a federal prosecutor and defense attorney, handling cases before the US Supreme Court, prosecuting organized crime, and representing high-profile clients. In 1985, Rosenfield and his longtime partner and fellow former federal prosecutor, Larry Flax, made the radical decision to leave the law field and open a pizza restaurant in Beverly Hills. Their ambition was not simply to open a restaurant, but to rethink what pizza could be, where it could be eaten, and who it could be for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat followed was the moment California-style pizza moved into the mainstream--with its unexpected ingredients, open kitchens, and a relaxed yet elevated dining experience--and the rapid growth of CPK from a single location into a global brand. Along the way, Rosenfield and Flax navigated skeptical bankers, explosive expansion, partnerships with major corporations, and the pressures and consequences of private equity ownership.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than a growth story, this book reveals the human realities of entrepreneurship: partnership dynamics, culture under pressure, betrayal and resilience, and the constant tension between creativity and control. Central to CPK's success was the deliberate creation of a people-first culture, embodied in the ROCK values--Respect, Opportunity, Communication, and Kindness--and the belief that culture, not product alone, drives enduring success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten in a direct, personal voice, \u003cem\u003eThe California Pizza Kitchen Story\u003c\/em\u003e is both a memoir and a practical guide, offering lessons in leadership, reinvention, and how vision and values can turn an unconventional idea into a lasting brand. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Amplify Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/21\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798900262321\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.42lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/18\/2026\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Rick Rosenfield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52571266252981,"sku":"9798900262321","price":25.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-california-pizza-kitchen-story-how-two-federal-prosecutors-changed-the-way-america-eats-pizza-9798900262321","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}