How Electric Ovens Are Converting Fire-Loving Local Chefs
Pizza makers, aka pizzaiolos, are notoriously particular about their ovens. Is it coal-fired? Or wood? How hot does it get? How fast? “It’s the pursuit of perfection.” That’s what one local pizza chef told reporter Helen Xu about the brick oven he had custom made for White Pie in Uptown. But another local pizza shop is going in a different direction entirely — electric! Producer Paul Karolyi joined Helen Xu for a visit to the newly all-electric Sexy Pizza on Pearl Street to taste some electric pizza and figure out why a small but growing number of local restaurants are dumping natural gas for electric ovens and stovetops.
Paul mentioned this report on Denver’s new electrification rules.
For anyone who heard Helen’s most recent appearance on the show and might be wondering if Sexy Pizza sources their cheese from Leprino Foods — like 85% of all pizza makers around the world — we asked, and they do! Sexy Pizza buys from Leprino’s upscale brand Bacio, which offers mozzarella made with “a kiss” of buffalo milk.
What do you think about electric pizza? Would an electric operation entice you? Or repulse you? We want to hear what you think about the electric future of local dining. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
- Denver Restaurant Week is coming up March 1-10!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Republicans for Weiser, Colorado and the Blue Wave, and the Evans-Rutinel Showdown
President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at record low, and there are close elections happening across the country this November – cou...

Is Colorado About to Hike Taxes on the Rich? Your Guide to 87, 136 and Prop. NN
Colorado’s midterm election ballots are packed with big decisions for voters, including two competing taxation measures. Dr. Paul Teske,...

How the Broncos Are Buying Up Land for a New Stadium
Ever since Mayor Mike Johnston was inaugurated in 2023, he’s made a priority of both keeping the Broncos in Denver, but also working with...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Denver
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Denver? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm dra...

City Council’s Controversial Votes, a Crowded Race on a Crowded Ballot, and Green Chile Season!
There are ten candidates in the running to fill the vacant at-large city council position. With less than three weeks until election day...

The Politics of Swiping Left or Right, Spooky Season Recs, and the Rise of Vegan Restaurants
Are politics creating a division in Denver’s dating scene? Or are lovers on opposite sides of the political spectrum just really good at...

What's the Denver-est Halloween Costume of 2026? Plus, Your Takes on Compost, Pizza, and Denver's Unwritten Rules
Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are opening up the mailbag to hear from you, our dear listeners. We’re sharing your idea...

CoCo Ballot Blame Game, Victor Marx's Scandal Streak, and the Viral Punch at DIA
There’s a measure on this November’s ballot that would create a sales tax to support the proposed Front Range Passenger Rail, but around...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Denver
Another Denver school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no...

A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL
It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to ch...

