Dining out: Trippple Peppp at Lou Malnati’s, Smart Swaps at CPK, new Portillo’s combo and more

Pepperoni lovers take note

It’s National Pizza Week (through Jan. 17) and Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is using their yearly allocation of the letter “p” to launch the new Trippple Peppp Pizza to commemorate the occasion.

The new, limited-time offering features three layers of pepperoni, with crispy cupped pepperoni, classic pepperoni slices and the debut of new smoky pepperoni strips.

The Trippple Peppp Pizza is available beginning Thursday, Jan. 15, in both deep dish and thin crust at all Lou Malnati's locations for dine-in, carryout, and delivery. It will stick around through March.

Smart swaps

California Pizza Kitchen is offering a new way for guests to enjoy their menu while maybe keeping a New Year’s resolution.

Their new “Smart Swaps” menu, launched in partnership with the fitness influencer mother-daughter duo of Denise and Katie Austin, transforms nine popular dishes into protein-packed, plant-forward or lower-calorie chef-driven alternatives.

Protein-packed Smart Swaps transformations include the Avocado Club Egg Rolls, now as Lettuce Wraps for 64g of protein; the West Coast Burger, now as a bowl with 40g of protein; and the Cedar Plank Salmon, now with Piccata Sauce for 73g of protein.

Plant-forward Smart Swaps include the Piccata, now with Cauliflower Steak for 10g of fiber; the California Veggie Pizza, now with cauliflower crust for 7g of fiber; and the Lettuce Wraps, now vegetarian with 11g of fiber.

The menu also offers lower-calorie versions of the Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower, Tostada Pizza and Kung Pao Spaghetti.

CPK Smart Swaps are available for dine-in, carryout, or delivery at all participating U.S. restaurants for the same price as their original menu counterparts. They have suburban locations in Deer Park, Geneva, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Skokie.

Happy anniversary

Cinnaholic Naperville is celebrating its sixth anniversary Friday, Jan. 16, by offering guests their classic Old Skool roll topped with vanilla frosting for $3.

Cinnaholic, which was founded in 2010 in California, offers 100% vegan, dairy- and lactose-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free cinnamon rolls and treats. Locally, you can find them at 41 W. Jefferson Ave.

More mocktails

Add Ramsay’s Kitchen in Naperville to our list from last week of restaurants upping their non-alcoholic offerings for dry January.

The new mocktail menu features Caliwater cactus water in a pair of spirit-free cocktails. The Hot Melon brings jalapeño heat with watermelon juice, fresh lime and Caliwater watermelon, while the Desert Mule reimagines the Moscow mule with Caliwater wild prickly pear, ginger, and lime.

Bundle up

Portillo’s has a new limited-time value offering with their BIG Burger Bundle.

The combo features a 1/3-pound, charbroiled cheeseburger, small order of fries, and small fountain drink for $9.99.