In New York wine business circles, Yannick Benjamin is called 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 that 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 good friend, Alex Elegudin, began the nonprofit Wheeling Ahead, which provides quite a lot 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 must be handled with respect and dignity.”
In 2021, Mr. Benjamin put his imaginative and prescient to the check by opening Contento in East Harlem together with his good friend George Gallego. The restaurant rapidly turned 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 dad and mom, and final 12 months he opened Beaupierre Wines & Spirits within the neighborhood together with his spouse, Heidi Turzyn Benjamin. The couple dwell in a two-bedroom condo 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 form of anxiousness. It’s the time that I personal. I don’t have to fret a couple of telephone name or something like that. The very first thing that I all the time attempt to do within the morning — I’ve one among these little timers — I attempt to apply the “pomodoro” methodology. 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 a giant practitioner of Stoicism. The weekends are my time within the mornings to learn. I usually learn lots of books: “The Discourses of Epictetus”; I’m doing lots of studying on Marcus Aurelius; I really like the whole lot that’s from Seneca. I’ll spotlight lots of their stuff.
What’s key for me is writing to myself in the identical method 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 method of self-improvement, of questioning, “Whoa, Yannick, why did you get upset as a result of the elevator was damaged?” Or, “Was it actually vital so that you can snap at that individual?” Simply questioning and ensuring that you just’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. No less than nicely 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 accomplished a bunch of marathons collectively, full marathons. He’s additionally my enterprise associate 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 happening within the nonprofit world, what’s our subsequent objectives. But additionally to speak concerning the restaurant.
I imply, there’s ups, there’s downs. Particularly proper now, the restaurant enterprise has been a bit bit difficult. Happily, 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 sooner or later you’re like a cool child, and the following day you’re form of forgotten.
NOTRE DAME I normally wish to cease by the Church of Notre Dame. If there’s no Mass I simply form of sit there and simply do some meditation, keep in silence — extra of a gratitude for all the nice issues in my life. I like the sensation of the church. It brings me nice pleasure to go there to search out that serenity.
One among 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, but it surely’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 One among my go-to eating places is a spot referred to as Benoit. I’d go there, have a bit brunch or lunch with a good friend. And I wish to all the time arrange an excellent, 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 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 chance to be so shut, subsequent to my sister who lives one constructing over, see my nephews on a regular basis. My mother comes down, all the time 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 individuals on earth.
MAMAN’S SPECIALTIES I do know it’s not everyone’s style, however I all the time 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 all the time surprises me. After which we catch up, and as you’ll be able to think about, we’ve got loads 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, though I’m within the wine business. It’s the one evening 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 hold issues actually easy. We actually don’t discuss politics. We simply discuss actually nothing, however nothing is nice typically.
Sunday Routine readers can comply with Yannick Benjamin on Instagram at @yannickbenjamin.
