In New York wine trade circles, Yannick Benjamin is called one of many high sommeliers. He discovered 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 automotive accident at age 25 and have become paralyzed from the waist down.
After receiving a sommelier certification the following 12 months, Mr. Benjamin started to throw a few of his power towards supporting different individuals with disabilities. He and a buddy, Alex Elegudin, began the nonprofit Wheeling Ahead, which provides quite a lot of providers and applications. One other nonprofit, Wine on Wheels, grew out of that, with Mr. Benjamin utilizing his connections to assist elevate cash and “carry consciousness to the hospitality trade that individuals with disabilities must be handled with respect and dignity.”
In 2021, Mr. Benjamin put his imaginative and prescient to the take a look at by opening Contento in East Harlem along with his buddy George Gallego. The restaurant shortly turned referred to as 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 12 months he opened Beaupierre Wines & Spirits within the neighborhood along with his spouse, Heidi Turzyn Benjamin. The couple stay in a two-bedroom residence 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 nervousness. It’s the time that I personal. I don’t have to fret a few cellphone name or something like that. The very first thing that I at all times attempt to do within the morning — I’ve one in all these little timers — I attempt to apply the “pomodoro” methodology. I’ll put it on for about 20, 25 minutes. I’m going straight to my water cooler, have a glass of water, electrolytes, brush my tooth. Then I’m going straight into what I name my very own type of meditation.
ANCIENT TEXTS I’m a giant practitioner of Stoicism. The weekends are my time within the mornings to learn. I usually learn loads of books: “The Discourses of Epictetus”; I’m doing loads of studying on Marcus Aurelius; I really like every thing that’s from Seneca. I’ll spotlight loads 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 individuals 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 individual?” Simply questioning and ensuring that you just’re selecting up good habits.
ADAPTIVE TRAINING Sundays and Saturdays are the times I like to essentially push my exercises to past the boundaries, exhaust myself. No less than 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’m going to the Entry Initiatives, the wellness and bodily health middle, to see my colleague and buddy 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 companion on the restaurant Contento.
STRATEGY SESSION We prefer to go to Contento; it’s closed on Sunday, and it’s simply good to be in your individual little spot. We like to speak about what’s happening within the nonprofit world, what’s our subsequent targets. But in addition to speak concerning the restaurant.
I imply, there’s ups, there’s downs. Particularly proper now, the restaurant enterprise has been slightly bit difficult. Thankfully, we don’t have a excessive overhead; we’re a small area, so it’s good. However we notice that we’re in a metropolis of 26,000 eating places. And someday you’re like a cool child, and the following day you’re sort of forgotten.
NOTRE DAME I normally prefer to cease by the Church of Notre Dame. If there’s no Mass I simply sort of sit there and simply perform a little 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 search out that serenity.
Certainly one of my favourite quotes is from “Sound of Steel.” It’s about somebody who’s going deaf, and in one of many scenes it says, the world generally is 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 following day.
FANCY CHICKEN Certainly one of my go-to eating places is a spot known as Benoit. I’d go there, have slightly brunch or lunch with a buddy. And I prefer to at all times arrange a great, stable assembly with somebody that I haven’t talked to shortly. Often, it’s in regard to Wine on Wheels and what the long run holds. Their roasted rooster is the best factor on earth.
WINES AND SPIRITS It provides 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 simply wish 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 robust breaks in my life, however on the finish of the day, I’m one of many luckiest individuals 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 possibly can think about, we now have quite a bit 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, although I’m within the wine trade. 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 get pleasure from one another’s firm. And with our little doggy, Amelie, we watch no matter’s on TV, have good dialog, and simply preserve 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 observe Yannick Benjamin on Instagram at @yannickbenjamin.
