How a marathon runner and sommelier spends his Sundays
In New York wine industry circles, Yannick Benjamin is known as one of the best sommeliers. He learned the trade as a young man at places like Jean-Georges and Le Cirque. His work in the hospitality industry took on new meaning when he had a car accident in 2003 at the age of 25, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
After earning a sommelier certification the following year, Mr. Benjamin began devoting some of his energy to supporting other people with disabilities. He and a friend, Alex Elegudin, started the nonprofit Wheeling Forward, which offers a variety of services and programs. Another non-profit organization, Wine on Wheels, grew out of it, with Mr. Benjamin using his connections to raise money and “raise awareness in the hospitality industry that people with disabilities should be treated with respect and dignity.”
In 2021, Mr. Benjamin put his vision to the test by opening Contento in East Harlem with his friend George Gallego. The restaurant quickly became known as a model of accessibility in dining, with adjustments for wheelchair users, a menu in Braille and adaptable cutlery.
Mr. Benjamin, 46, was raised in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen by French immigrant parents, and last year he and his wife, Heidi Turzyn Benjamin, opened Beaupierre Wines & Spirits nearby. The couple lives with their dog Amélie in a two-bedroom apartment in the Concourse section of the Bronx.
EARLY BIRD I love waking up in the morning. From 4:30 am to about 8:30 am I am free from any form of anxiety. It is time that I own. I don’t have to worry about a phone call or anything like that. The first thing I always try to do in the morning – I have one of these little timers – is practice the ‘pomodoro’ method. I’ll keep it on for about 20, 25 minutes. I go straight to my water cooler, drink a glass of water, electrolytes, brush my teeth. Then I immediately switch to what I call my own form of meditation.
OLD TEXTS I am a great practitioner of Stoicism. Weekends are my time for reading in the mornings. I often read many books: “The Discourses of Epictetus”; I read a lot about Marcus Aurelius; I love all things Seneca. I’ll highlight a lot of their stuff.
What is crucial for me is that I write to myself in the same way that Marcus Aurelius did in the book ‘Meditations’. When he wrote that book, he didn’t really write it for other people to read; it was a diary for himself. It’s a way to improve yourself, to ask yourself, “Whoa, Yannick, why did you get upset because the elevator was broken?” Or, “Was it really necessary for you to snap at that person?” Just ask questions and make sure you learn good habits.
ADAPTIVE TRAINING Sundays and Saturdays are the days when I like to push my workouts to the limit and exhaust myself. At least well over an hour of cardio, that’s my hand crank – equivalent to a Peloton bike, but only for someone who has only an upper body, because I’m paralyzed, right? I do adaptive jumping. I do my adaptive burpees. I’m heading to Access Initiatives, the wellness and physical fitness center, to see my colleague and friend George Gallego [the founder]. We’re going to do the New York City half marathon [on Sunday] together. We have run a number of marathons together, full marathons. He is also my business partner in the Contento restaurant.
STRATEGY SESSION We like going to Contento; on Sundays it is closed and it is just nice to be in your own place. We love talking about what’s going on in the nonprofit world and what our next goals are. But also to talk about the restaurant.
I mean, there’s ups, there’s downs. Especially now, the restaurant industry is a bit challenging. Fortunately, we don’t have high overhead; we’re a small space so it’s good. But we realize we are in a city of 26,000 restaurants. And one day you’re a cool kid, and the next day you’re kind of forgotten.
NOTRE DAME I usually like to visit the Church of Notre Dame. If there is no mass, I just sit there and do a little meditation, staying in silence – more of a gratitude for all the good things in my life. I love the feel of church. It gives me great joy to go there and find that peace.
One of my favorite quotes comes from ‘Sound of Metal’. It’s about someone who goes deaf, and one of the scenes says that the world can be a damn cruel place, but it’s those moments of silence – they’re the closest you get to the kingdom of God, and those moments of silence will make you never betrayed. You. We need those moments to gain some clarity. Because we know that the next day we will be back in the rat race.
FANTASTIC CHICKEN One of my favorite restaurants is a place called Benoit. I could go there, have a little brunch or lunch with a friend. And I always like to organize a good, solid meeting with someone I haven’t spoken to in a while. Mostly it’s about Wine on Wheels and what the future holds. Their roasted chicken is the best on earth.
WINES AND DRINKS It gives me comfort that I was able to open a store in the same building in which I was born and raised. Most people experience trauma sometimes. They just want to get away from the place where they grew up. And I understand that. But in my case, what an opportunity to be so close, next to my sister who lives one building away, and see my nephews all the time. My mother comes downstairs and always brings me food. I’ve had some tough moments in my life, but at the end of the day, I’m one of the happiest people on earth.
MAMANS SPECIALTIES I know it’s not to everyone’s taste, but I always say my mother is a master of organ meats. She does kidney, liver or something like tripe. It’s so good. She always surprises me. And then we catch up, and as you can imagine, we have a lot to talk about because my dad just passed away. But she is cheerful. She is one of the strongest individuals I have ever met.
NO-JUDGMENT WINE I really don’t drink that much, even though I’m in the wine industry. It’s the one night of the week that I can actually drink a glass of wine without dissecting it or judging it, and just enjoy the simplicity of it, the stimulation of it. My wife and I just enjoy each other’s company. And with our little dog, Amelie, we watch what’s on TV, have fun conversations and keep things very simple. We don’t really talk about politics. We just talk about really nothing, but sometimes nothing is great.
Readers of Sunday Routine can follow Yannick Benjamin Instagram at @yannickbenjamin.