Pizza Myths, Mysteries, and Madness
Pizza Week continues! Our producer Paul Karolyi is a certified pizza obsessive, searching low and Mile High for the most tantalizing combinations of cheese, crust, and sauce. But that search has yielded more questions than answers, especially around authenticity and Beau Jo’s, the infamous Front Range pizza chain that trademarked the phrase “Colorado-style pizza.” Today, Paul poses his most vexing pizza questions to local pizza expert Carol Helstosky. She’s a professor of history at the University of Denver, author of “Pizza: A Global History,” and fellow traveler on the never-ending quest for perfect pizza.
All the pizza places we mentioned today:
- Marco’s Coal-Fired (LoDo)
- Domino’s (Various)
- Pizza Hut (Various)
- Beau Jo’s (Idaho Springs, etc.)
- Anthony’s (Various)
And today’s listener recs:
- Pizzeria Leopold (Lakewood)
- Pizzeria Lui (Lakewood)
- Cosmo’s Pizza (Various)
Carol also has a hot tip for the home pizza chefs out there:
“Before you put the pizzas in, when your oven’s as hot as it will go, throw in 3-4 ice cubes. It really makes a difference in the crust.”
We’ve got sooooo much more pizza goodness in today’s CCD newsletter, plus some real news and useful info: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/
Tell us all your deepest, darkest pizza secrets on Twitter: @citycastdenver
Leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418
Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
The Unwritten Rules of Surviving and Thriving in Denver
What are the things you need to know to thrive in Denver? You know, like remembering to bring a jacket regardless of the weather – which...
It's Film Fest Season! Plus, Red Rocks Ticket Troubles and Our Concert Recs
Sundance Film Festival’s Colorado debut is just months away, but there are plenty of homegrown film fests happening this fall and winter....
A Local Landmark Melts Away, Ball Arena’s New $135M Lobby, and Vegetarian Hot Dogs
Ball Arena is set to get a $135 million makeover, complete with more escalators and a giant LED screen outside for fans to watch the acti...
A New Owner Bought Park Hill's Most Notorious Strip Mall. Is Gentrification Coming Next?
A grocery store or a bar? This is the question at the center of the future of The Holly, a shopping center in Northeast Park Hill. The ge...
The Spicy Story Behind One of Denver's Most Famous Green Chiles
Green chile is a staple of Colorado cuisine – both the pepper itself and the spicy, soupy stew used to smother everything from burritos a...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast Denver
Would Denver be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and...
Could City Workers Get A Raise? Plus, New Buyers for The Mercury Cafe, and Another Bear Attack
The Mercury Cafe is back! Again! This time around, the buyers are asking the community what they want from this legendary space before mo...
Denver’s Shining Star Chefs, Burrito Haters, and Is Downtown a Convention Destination?
Denver chefs and restaurateurs celebrated this week when both the Michelin Guide announced its 2026 winners and the New York Times droppe...
Young Coloradans Really Dislike AI and More Takeaways From a New Poll
A new poll out this week says Coloradans have strong feelings about AI and data centers, offering an interesting look at how age, politic...
Downtown's Ups and Downs, Liquor License Losers, and Mesa Verde's Massive Repatriation
Thirty-six years after the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Mesa Verde National Park is returning m...