{
  "id": 2068432,
  "title": "Banker-turned-hawker sells S$7 NYC Levain-style cookies at Golden Mile Food Centre",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/banker-turned-hawker-sells-s-7-nyc-levain-style-cookies-at-golden",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T04:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/dining/ate-cookies-levain-style-hawker-golden-mile-6330061"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A former banker-turned-self-taught baker has opened a stall selling S$7 New York-style cookies at Golden Mile Food Centre in Singapore. Donovan Wong, 33, invested S$40,000 into his solo venture, Ate Cookies, and has been operating the stall for two months. Although new, Wong is no stranger to the hawker trade, having previously run a Taiwanese hawker stall named Wen Li Taiwanese Food in the same food centre. Before entering the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Wong worked in banking as a relationship manager and holds a Banking and Finance degree from the University of London. After leaving banking five years ago, Wong discovered his passion for F&B, having previously worked part-time in the kitchen at American burger chain Five Guys. The concept for Ate Cookies came while Wong was eating a Subway cookie, which he found lacking in thickness and flavor. He aimed to create a denser, chewier version inspired by New York's Levain Bakery, whose cookies he studied through online videos and images. Despite his financial background, Wong could not find success in expanding Wen Li Taiwanese Food; hence, he chose a smaller scale concept for Ate Cookies.",
  "summary": "The self-taught baker invested S$40,000 into his solo venture, Ate Cookies.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former banker Donovan Wong sells S$7 New York-style cookies at Golden Mile Food Centre.",
    "Wong invested S$40,000 into his solo venture, Ate Cookies, operating the stall for two months.",
    "Wong's inspiration for Ate Cookies came from Subway cookies and New York's Levain Bakery."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This career shift by a former banker to a solo food venture signals a personal gamble to trade financial stability for entrepreneurial passion, with uncertain prospects for scaling the business.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Banker-turned-hawker sells S$7 NYC Levain-style cookies at Golden Mile Food Centre",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/banker-turned-hawker-sells-s-7-nyc-levain-style-cookies-at-golden-2069224",
        "published": "2026-08-20T04:18:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}