Jalean Wong and Chin Hui Wen taste test the city’s pizza specialists.

Las Vegas may have just played host to the International Pizza Expo (yes, it’s real), but the last six months have seen something of a pizza revival here, too. Even the French are looking to get in on the action with Alsatian pizza specialist Flam’s, slated to open on March 26. Here are some options for when you next get a craving.

12-inch Pizzas & Records
This laidback Timbre venture is all about two things: the pizza (from $14) and the music; there’s a turntable and a collection of old school vinyls, too. Expect thin-crust goodness, with unusual Asian-inspired flavors including a tasty black pepper crab ($19) and Jai Ho—slices of lamb kebab, zucchini, tomato and papadum ($19).
Crust: Topping ratio = 1:1
The verdict: Ideal for those who prefer thin-crust styles or indecisive eaters; they do half-and-halfs for $24.

*WINNER* Extra Virgin Pizza
A three-month-old casual alfresco pizzeria that serves up mighty fine fresh-baked, leopard spotted-pies with more substantial crusts. Top picks include the evergreen spicy pepperoni ($22) and unique pistachio pesto ($24), while recent introduction “Spotted Pig” ($28) looks set to be a new fave. We’re already looking forward to the arrival of their second outlet at Mohamed Sultan in a few months.
Crust: Topping ratio = 3:2
The verdict: We’d be happy with these slightly chewy, addictive leftovers any day.

*RUNNER UP* Pizzeria Mozza
Pegged to celeb chef Mario Batali (whose orange Crocs we haven’t seen since its opening), each wood-fired disk is evenly golden. Unfortunately there’s little evidence of the char, although fresh quality toppings go some way to compensate. The white anchovy, tomato and sliced chili option ($28) is full-flavored, while the burricotta, peperonata and taggiasche olive pie ($25) is a well-balanced treat.
Crust: Topping ratio = 3:1
The verdict: For lovers of crunchy crusts; make sure you go in groups of four or more though.

SLICE
A quick service concept that’s built for individual consumers; you can have just a slice (from $5), hence the name, or as much as you can devour. There are over 30 options to choose from; we suggest the tandoori chicken and yogurt ($7) and The Butcher—with beef, bacon and pepperoni ($8) for meat-lovers.
Crust: Topping ratio = 2:1
The verdict: Great for lone rangers or small eaters after a cheap yet decent bite; just don’t go expecting fireworks.

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These foodie trends have not kicked off in Singapore, but are already old elsewhere.

1. Food trucks. They’ve been big in the US for years. Some of them now even sell their branded products at mainstream stores. Hell, California has a Singaporean one called Chomp Chomp Nation. But over here? Still nothing. Sort. Out. The. Licensing. Laws.

2. Locavorism. It’s hard to eat food grown within a few miles of home when there’s unbroken conurbation between you and the ocean. But it would still be nice to see someone take a leaf out of Rene Redzepi’s book and start scouring for obscure and antiquated ingredients right under our nose.

3. Cake pops. Quite why these cake-on-a-stick creations haven’t caught on here yet is beyond us. They’re small! And cute! And sugary! And they’re getting plenty of press in London. That said, we wouldn’t be at all sorry if they never showed up. It’s glorified baby food; and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

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What does the Singapore National Committee for UN Women do?
The Singapore chapter of UNIFEM was established in 1999 to develop nations all over South East Asia through economic empowerment programs, governance and leadership initiatives and conflict area support (to help women in war torn countries). There’s also the UNIFEM Trust Fund, working to eliminate violence against women.

What are you working on now?
We have Project Inspire, which gives young people (aged 18-35) a chance to win US$25,000 (S$31,470) to work on their ideas for aid through education, training and social entrepreneurship. Then, there’s the STOP Sex Trafficking Campaign which petitions the public to demand greater protection of children and young people. You can join the fight at Sound Out, which we launched last year. There’s also Buy to Save, where we work with fashion brands to sell garments at charity sales. More than $200,000 has been raised so far. With our Day Off Campaign, we aim to get employers to give domestic workers a regular day off. In addition, we have Help Anna, an online effort to stop gender based violence, be it domestic abuse, domestic worker abuse, sex trafficking or labour trafficking. To support the cause, we have “A Call for Help”, an interactive iPhone application which promotes awareness against domestic violence.

What are some challenges faced by UN Women?
Our biggest challenge right now is fundraising in a tough economic climate. With so many other worthy compelling causes, we have to be more strategic in communicating our cause and explaining why it is so important, if not necessary, to empower women and children.

How can people help out?
A great way to help is to find out more about the issue and to start talking about it. Channelling that motivation into action could come in the form of sharing your thoughts, opinions and expertise for the cause that interests you. Becoming a member or a volunteer at our events and campaigns is just one of the ways you can start. Donations are always welcome, but we also recognize that the best way to gain the most mileage out of every dollar is to tap into the hearts and minds of individuals.

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