In New York wine business circles, Yannick Benjamin is named one of many high sommeliers. He realized his commerce as a younger man at locations like Jean-Georges and Le Cirque. His work in hospitality took on a brand new which means in 2003, when he was in a automobile accident at age 25 and have become paralyzed from the waist down.
After receiving a sommelier certification the subsequent yr, Mr. Benjamin started to throw a few of his power towards supporting different folks with disabilities. He and a good friend, Alex Elegudin, began the nonprofit Wheeling Ahead, which presents a wide range of companies and packages. One other nonprofit, Wine on Wheels, grew out of that, with Mr. Benjamin utilizing his connections to assist elevate cash and “convey consciousness to the hospitality business that individuals with disabilities have to be handled with respect and dignity.”
In 2021, Mr. Benjamin put his imaginative and prescient to the check by opening Contento in East Harlem along with his good friend George Gallego. The restaurant shortly grew to become often called a mannequin for accessibility in eating, with modifications for wheelchair customers, a menu in Braille and adaptive flatware.
Mr. Benjamin, 46, was raised in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan by French immigrant mother and father, and final yr he opened Beaupierre Wines & Spirits within the neighborhood along with his spouse, Heidi Turzyn Benjamin. The couple reside in a two-bedroom house within the Concourse part of the Bronx with their canine, Amélie.
EARLY RISER I really like waking up within the morning. From 4:30 a.m. to about 8:30 a.m., I’m freed from any sort of anxiousness. It’s the time that I personal. I don’t have to fret a few telephone name or something like that. The very first thing that I at all times attempt to do within the morning — I’ve certainly one of these little timers — I attempt to apply the “pomodoro” technique. I’ll put it on for about 20, 25 minutes. I am going straight to my water cooler, have a glass of water, electrolytes, brush my enamel. Then I am going straight into what I name my very own type of meditation.
ANCIENT TEXTS I’m an enormous practitioner of Stoicism. The weekends are my time within the mornings to learn. I typically learn plenty of books: “The Discourses of Epictetus”; I’m doing plenty of studying on Marcus Aurelius; I really like all the pieces that’s from Seneca. I’ll spotlight plenty of their stuff.
What’s key for me is writing to myself in the identical approach that Marcus Aurelius did within the e book “Meditations.” When he wrote that e book, he wasn’t actually writing it for different folks to learn — it was a journal to himself. It’s a approach of self-improvement, of questioning, “Whoa, Yannick, why did you get upset as a result of the elevator was damaged?” Or, “Was it actually mandatory so that you can snap at that particular person?” Simply questioning and ensuring that you simply’re choosing up good habits.
ADAPTIVE TRAINING Sundays and Saturdays are the times I like to essentially push my exercises to past the boundaries, exhaust myself. A minimum of properly over an hour of cardio, which is my hand crank — equal to a Peloton bike, however just for somebody who solely has higher physique, as a result of I’m paralyzed, proper? I do adaptive leaping. I do my adaptive burpees. I am going to the Entry Initiatives, the wellness and bodily health middle, to see my colleague and good friend George Gallego [the founder]. We’re going to do the New York Metropolis Half Marathon [on Sunday] collectively. We’ve achieved a bunch of marathons collectively, full marathons. He’s additionally my enterprise accomplice on the restaurant Contento.
STRATEGY SESSION We wish to go to Contento; it’s closed on Sunday, and it’s simply good to be in your personal little spot. We like to speak about what’s occurring within the nonprofit world, what’s our subsequent objectives. But additionally to speak in regards to the restaurant.
I imply, there’s ups, there’s downs. Particularly proper now, the restaurant enterprise has been slightly bit difficult. Luckily, we don’t have a excessive overhead; we’re a small area, so it’s good. However we understand that we’re in a metropolis of 26,000 eating places. And at some point you’re like a cool child, and the subsequent day you’re sort of forgotten.
NOTRE DAME I normally wish to cease by the Church of Notre Dame. If there’s no Mass I simply sort of sit there and simply do some meditation, keep in silence — extra of a gratitude for all the great issues in my life. I like the sensation of the church. It brings me nice pleasure to go there to seek out that serenity.
Considered one of my favourite quotes is from “Sound of Metallic.” It’s about somebody who’s going deaf, and in one of many scenes it says, the world is usually a rattling merciless place, nevertheless it’s these moments of stillness — that’s the closest factor to the dominion of God, and people moments of stillness won’t ever betray you. We’d like these moments simply to get some readability. As a result of we all know we’re going to return to the rat race the subsequent day.
FANCY CHICKEN Considered one of my go-to eating places is a spot known as Benoit. I would go there, have slightly brunch or lunch with a good friend. And I wish to at all times manage a very good, strong assembly with somebody that I haven’t talked to shortly. Normally, it’s in regard to Wine on Wheels and what the longer term holds. Their roasted hen is the best factor on earth.
WINES AND SPIRITS It offers me consolation that I used to be in a position to open a retailer in the identical constructing that I used to be born and raised in. Most individuals, typically they’ve trauma. They only need to get out of the place that they grew up in. And I perceive that. However in my case, what a possibility to be so shut, subsequent to my sister who lives one constructing over, see my nephews on a regular basis. My mother comes down, at all times bringing me meals. I’ve had some powerful breaks in my life, however on the finish of the day, I’m one of many luckiest folks on earth.
MAMAN’S SPECIALTIES I do know it’s not everyone’s style, however I at all times say my mother is a grasp at organ meats. She’ll do both kidney, liver or one thing like tripe. It’s so good. She at all times surprises me. After which we catch up, and as you may think about, we have now lots to speak about as a result of my father has simply handed away. However she’s in nice spirits. She’s one of many strongest people I’ve ever met.
NO-JUDGMENT WINE I actually don’t drink that a lot, despite the fact that I’m within the wine business. It’s the one night time of the week that I can even have a glass of wine and never dissect it or choose it and simply benefit from the simplicity of it, the stimulation of it. Me and my spouse, we simply take pleasure in one another’s firm. And with our little doggy, Amelie, we watch no matter’s on TV, have good dialog, and simply maintain issues actually easy. We actually don’t speak about politics. We simply speak about actually nothing, however nothing is nice typically.
Sunday Routine readers can comply with Yannick Benjamin on Instagram at @yannickbenjamin.
