Our Story

ENGINE ROOM PIZZA originated in Livingston, Montana in the winter of 2023.

Pizza

A UNIVERSAL LOVE LANGUAGE

If you had asked me a year ago if I would open

a pizzeria, Ha, no way!

then I thought, wait, I LOVE deep dish pie

As a baker, and chef committed to using

the BEST ingredients

I said YES to pizza

I make the BEST crust + use the BEST tomatoes

Driven by hospitality, Karen Henderson is a seasoned entrepreneur, restauranteur, with a craft for sales, brand development, and marketing. She orchestrates events and all players involved with finesse, using her expertise in back and front of the house catering. She was first introduced to the commercial kitchen in 1991, at Greta’s Café in Downtown Sacramento while finishing her environmental studies degree at Sacramento State.  For the past 25 years Karen has worked with several start-ups, including building, designing and launching her own cake catering company, winning Food Network’s Cupcake Wars after opening her cupcake store, Lila & Sage, all while raising her family in Murphys, CA. After 10 years as the sole proprietor, she sold the business, which continues to thrive to this day.
Karen returned to her hometown of Sacramento to direct Edible Sac High, founded in partnership with Alice Waters and former Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson. Her program inspired students to grow food for their kitchen classroom in an acre garden. She mentored student-led businesses and made it her mission to expose kids to real ingredients. Karen spent the first two months of COVID assessing her future. An empty nester, she decided to move to Montana in May of 2020 to work for a start up wedding venue and farm on the Cottonwood Creek in south Bozeman. Bodhi Farms allowed her to do more of what she loves. She opened a farm restaurant, booked weddings, cooked out over fire for farmer’s markets, taught kids at farm camp, grew food and baked.
In May of 2021, revived an abandoned commercial kitchen in the trendy NE neighborhood and launchedApples + Anglers, a brand that creatively packagesdelicious and unique fly box lunches. In her first year shecatered dozens of events, including weddings, fundraisers,and private lodges. She secured contracts withYellowstone Club Jet Center, and has tapped into setcatering for movies, commercials + tv shows.Karen’s favorite event. She thrives not only collaboratingwith other makers, but is committed to buildingrelationships with small farms, local ranches anddistributors.In 2023 she moved the small town of Livingston. In asmall and shard kitchen she opened Dream Boat Market,and Engine Room Pizza. The new location solves thelimitations of not being able to sell beer and wine, and atthe same time is poised on one of the busiest corners inLivingston. The town is craving more options fordelicious food with a full service experience with a great  vibe.