Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Messer and Tim
Speaker 1: Stenebek on Bloomberg Radio. All right, well, loyal listeners and
Speaker 1: viewers are well acquainted with our next guest. Yanick Benjamin
Speaker 1: is a somoier and restaurant tour behind one of New
Speaker 1: York City's most cutting edge and inclusive restaurants, Contento in
Speaker 1: East Harlem. He's also making hospitality accessible to everyone as
Speaker 1: a co founder of Wine on Wheels, which works with
Speaker 1: and helps recently disabled people that lack a support system
Speaker 1: and resources to obtain the services that they need. It
Speaker 1: is something that is something he knows so much about
Speaker 1: and so great to have back with us. Janick ben
Speaker 1: Benjamin joining us on Zoom in New York City. I'm
Speaker 1: rushing through. There's so much to talk about and set
Speaker 1: you up, but our audience knows you. How are you.
Speaker 2: I'm doing great and thank you for having me back on.
Speaker 2: I'm really honored.
Speaker 1: Well, we're always honored to get some time with you
Speaker 1: for all of the work that you are doing. So
Speaker 1: tell us about your world and how things are going
Speaker 1: right now.
Speaker 2: Everything's great. I just got back from an incredible trip
Speaker 2: from Greece, visited some wonderful Wineries. Learned so much about it,
Speaker 2: so much, so many great things are happening out there.
Speaker 2: So that was really great. And now I'm back here
Speaker 2: in New York City and we're preparing for our first
Speaker 2: one scene in four years. Obviously, we had this major interruption,
Speaker 2: so we're so excited to have it back on and
Speaker 2: that'll be on Sunday, September tenth at City Winery.
Speaker 3: So talk to us about the money that you are
Speaker 3: raising for charity and what goes into that.
Speaker 2: Yes, so the purpose of One on Wheels is really
Speaker 2: to educate the public, but most of all to really
Speaker 2: bring awareness as well. So there's a wellness and physical
Speaker 2: fitness center that's going to be opened very soon, and
Speaker 2: that's spearheaded by my dear friend and colleague George Gego,
Speaker 2: who also happens to be a partner of mine at
Speaker 2: the restaurant Contento Contental Restaurant Improving Restaurant on twenty eleventh
Speaker 2: between Park and Madison. And so this wellness and physical
Speaker 2: fitness center, which is going to be lowkey, hit it
Speaker 2: on one eighteenth and third. All of the equipment will
Speaker 2: be adaptive. This is going to be a great place
Speaker 2: for people with disabilities to go to where they're going
Speaker 2: to be there with their peers, learn from each other
Speaker 2: and be able to interact and really motivate each other.
Speaker 2: There aren't really there aren't too many places here in
Speaker 2: New York City or anywhere else in the United States
Speaker 2: where people with physical disabilities can go to and have
Speaker 2: equipment that's actually adaptive for them and also have adaptive
Speaker 2: classes like adaptive boxing, adaptive martial arts. I mean, it's
Speaker 2: going to be really great. Certainly, there have been a
Speaker 2: lot of challenges to get this open, and so this
Speaker 2: is why it's really important to have one on wheels
Speaker 2: to raise this money and really let the public know
Speaker 2: that this is an important project and it needs to happen.
Speaker 1: Yeah, nic I said, you're someone who knows a lot
Speaker 1: about this world because you and yourself were paralyzed below
Speaker 1: the waste at the age of twenty five. It was
Speaker 1: a car accident. So it's I think at two decades ago,
Speaker 1: tell us about remind everybody about what happened to you
Speaker 1: and what you realized around the world when it comes
Speaker 1: to because obviously you know this from a firsthand, what
Speaker 1: is lacking in our system and our infrastructure and our
Speaker 1: sensitivity kind of as a society.
Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, for sure. It's funny that you would ask
Speaker 2: me that, because you know, in October it will be
Speaker 2: my twentieth year being on a wheelchair. It's really unbelievable
Speaker 2: to even think that, and it's gone by so fast
Speaker 2: and so much has happened. But you know, I was
Speaker 2: in Athens and such an incredible and vibrant city, and
Speaker 2: it just reminded me that we still have so much
Speaker 2: more work to do. You know, just rolling around the
Speaker 2: streets of Athens and trying to get up to the
Speaker 2: Acropolis had many, many challenges. And it's not just people
Speaker 2: on wheelchairs, but it's people that are blind and that
Speaker 2: are deaf and so on. And you know, we're talking
Speaker 2: about over one billion people globally that have a disability, right,
Speaker 2: and so we need to do a better job get in,
Speaker 2: getting rid of those invisible barriers, and really just doing
Speaker 2: a better job reaching over and being more inclusive. I mean,
Speaker 2: here in the United States alone, we have well over
Speaker 2: sixty one million Americans that have a disability. And so
Speaker 2: as I tell all my friends and colleagues in the
Speaker 2: restaurant business, right especially now, where you know there's so
Speaker 2: many challenges. It's not easy being an operator for a
Speaker 2: food establishment. You know, we're talking about you know, sixty
Speaker 2: one million Americans that have over five hundred billion dollars
Speaker 2: of spending power, right and we're just kind of completely
Speaker 2: still ignoring that population. I just don't understand why people
Speaker 2: with disabilities have so much to offer their willing. They're able,
Speaker 2: and they want to work, and they want you know,
Speaker 2: in life, everybody wants a sense of purpose. And I
Speaker 2: remember when I first got injured, there were a lot
Speaker 2: of obstacles, there were a lot of challenges, and all
Speaker 2: I ever did prior to my accident, I was always
Speaker 2: in hospitality and all of a sudden, here I am
Speaker 2: car accident, paralyzed in the waist down, and it was
Speaker 2: certainly not easy to get back into the game. And
Speaker 2: I'm hoping that we can see more people with disabilities
Speaker 2: in the hospitality, in the changes, people with disabilities in
Speaker 2: the workforce period.
Speaker 3: How will the proceeds be split. I know in the
Speaker 3: past you've used wheeling it forward. It's dedicated to improving
Speaker 3: the lives of those who are living with disabilities. And
Speaker 3: then also Backbones, which has assisted people with those spinal
Speaker 3: cord injuries.
Speaker 2: Yeah, So Backbones is a charity that's out of Chicago.
Speaker 2: So we did an event with them, and they do
Speaker 2: a lot of great work. We are going to continue
Speaker 2: to support Willing Forward. I'm still very much involved with them.
Speaker 2: They have a great program called Spinal Mobility, which also
Speaker 2: incorporates exercise and fitness and wellness for people with disabilities.
Speaker 2: So that's how the proceeds will be split with that organization.
Speaker 2: But also again our main priority is to get money
Speaker 2: and get those doors open for the Access Project, spearheaded
Speaker 2: by George Diego, because that this is going to be
Speaker 2: an incredible project and again something that's sorely lacking. You know,
Speaker 2: there's not a lot of places for people disabilities to
Speaker 2: go to where they can go to and feel safe
Speaker 2: and comfortable and work out and be amongst their peers.
Speaker 2: And I think that the Access Project is going to
Speaker 2: be sort of you'll see. I think if it works out,
Speaker 2: it'll be the template for many other cities and states
Speaker 2: to follow.
Speaker 1: Well, that's what I wanted to go back to, is
Speaker 1: you know your own experience, and you know, realizing the
Speaker 1: lack of support or the lack of infrastructure or resources,
Speaker 1: you know, you would think in this day and age
Speaker 1: that either through healthcare or so on and so forth,
Speaker 1: that these systems would be there. You know, what are
Speaker 1: some of those what would be probably you know, just basic, necessary,
Speaker 1: fundamental services that are still lacking for individuals with disabilities.
Speaker 2: For sure, I think, you know, for some reason, we
Speaker 2: still don't prioritize healthcare, and unfortunately, we have a lot
Speaker 2: of individuals that heavily rely on Medicaid, and the rules
Speaker 2: and regulations for Medicaid are very oppressive and they're very rigid.
Speaker 2: So unfortunately, a lot of people that rely on Medicaid
Speaker 2: because if they return to work, they're always in danger
Speaker 2: of losing it. So there's not a lot of incentive
Speaker 2: for people to want to get back to the workforce.
Speaker 2: And so I completely understand that. So there needs to
Speaker 2: be a fundamental change when it comes to that. I
Speaker 2: think that people who have a long term disability should
Speaker 2: be entitled to the best healthcare and should not have
Speaker 2: to worry about if they get a job and losing
Speaker 2: that really important health insurance. You know, there's a lot
Speaker 2: of people that rely on durable medical equipment and so
Speaker 2: on and so forth, and so I think that if
Speaker 2: we can change that and soften up those rules and regulations.
Speaker 2: I think you're going to see plenty of people out
Speaker 2: and about living independent lives. I think that also the
Speaker 2: cost of living has just been so it's been really
Speaker 2: challenging for a lot of people with disabilities here in
Speaker 2: New York. It's made it very, very difficult, and that's
Speaker 2: something that we don't talk enough about. So we certainly
Speaker 2: need more affordable housing, but affordable housing that's also accessible
Speaker 2: for people with disabilities.
Speaker 1: You know, Janik, were you so often here at Bloomberg
Speaker 1: talk about inclusiveness or inclusive activity and feelings of belonging,
Speaker 1: And it's interesting that, you know, I'm looking at access
Speaker 1: project dot org and it's really created this community right
Speaker 1: where folks who have disabilities, Yeah, they can go box,
Speaker 1: they can go cycle, they can go do yoga, and
Speaker 1: like these are things like the health community says, you know,
Speaker 1: no matter what, you stay physically active in some regards,
Speaker 1: you're going to have a better life. And this is
Speaker 1: enabling those individuals to actually partake in this.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. I myself, I work out every single day. It's
Speaker 2: it's ingrained, it's part of my life. It's the same
Speaker 2: way someone has lunch every single day. They need to
Speaker 2: eat well. I need to work out, and I know
Speaker 2: that when I don't work out, I don't feel good.
Speaker 2: My day feels lousy, it feels different. It's something that
Speaker 2: makes me feel fulfilled. And it's that same passion that
Speaker 2: I want to pass on to others. It's the same
Speaker 2: passion that George Diego, my colleague, wants to pass on
Speaker 2: to others. And I think that unfortunately, I think that
Speaker 2: it's somewhat ingrained as there's a stigmatization because you have
Speaker 2: a disability, whether you're on a wheelchair or whatever the
Speaker 2: case might be, that working out might be difficult or
Speaker 2: you may never work on and I just think that
Speaker 2: we need to get rid of that. There are plenty
Speaker 2: of ways to work out. Whether you're in a wheelchair,
Speaker 2: whether you're blind, whether you're dep it doesn't make a difference.
Speaker 2: Everyone deserves the right to work out and deserves to
Speaker 2: have a facility that they can go to and feel
Speaker 2: safe and comfortable.
Speaker 1: I want to get back to our guest still with
Speaker 1: us Janick Benjamin Asmier and restaurant tour co founder of
Speaker 1: the East Harlan Restaurant contento, co founder of Wine on Wheels,
Speaker 1: Still with us on Zoom in New York City. We've
Speaker 1: been talking about wine on wheels, grand testing, a grand tasting,
Speaker 1: I should say grand tasting. I can't even read my
Speaker 1: own writing on September tenth. It's all to raise money
Speaker 1: and awareness for the Access Project, you know, Janick, I
Speaker 1: was thinking about all the things you do, and I
Speaker 1: feel like every time we check in with you, there's
Speaker 1: something more that's you're involved in. How do you think
Speaker 1: about kind of where you want to, you know, really
Speaker 1: spend your time and money and efforts, and how do
Speaker 1: you continue to expand to get your message and mission out.
Speaker 2: Well, you know, I've had some time to reflect and
Speaker 2: for sure, you know, sometimes being everywhere is being nowhere, right,
Speaker 2: So definitely one of my objectives is to try to
Speaker 2: streamline responsibilities and objectives and all that. But certainly, you know,
Speaker 2: restaurants and wine, and that's that's my heart, that's my love.
Speaker 2: Of course, above all that is my family and spending
Speaker 2: time with them as much as I can and not
Speaker 2: taking that for granted. But of course it's always been something,
Speaker 2: you know, It's been ingrained in me since I was
Speaker 2: a child. I was surrounded by some incredible people. I
Speaker 2: was taught by the Christian brothers, and always trying to
Speaker 2: give back to those that have less than you, and
Speaker 2: just not taking for granted the privilege that's been given
Speaker 2: to me, and really just trying to pay forward. And
Speaker 2: that's my only goal in life. And I'm not taking
Speaker 2: anything for granted and living within my means, but also
Speaker 2: living according to what nature gives me. And if I
Speaker 2: can do that, then I'm happy.
Speaker 1: Well, it's a great it's a great message for us all.
Speaker 3: Jess. How can people get involved in support your cause?
Speaker 2: Well, the first thing is you can just go on
Speaker 2: One on Wheels dot org. You can sign up to
Speaker 2: our newsletter and if you are interested in coming to
Speaker 2: One on Wheels on Sunday, September tenth. It starts at
Speaker 2: eleven am. It shuts down at three pm. But it's
Speaker 2: a great Sunday afternoon of wonderful wines. There'll be over
Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty different wines from around the world,
Speaker 2: poured by forty different restaurants. We'll have food there as well,
Speaker 2: provided by some great restaurants as well. So definitely a
Speaker 2: good Sunday afternoon to be spent. And I would like
Speaker 2: to offer all of your Bloomberg listeners a twenty percent
Speaker 2: discount if they put down Why be Friends. So it's
Speaker 2: Why be Friends fr I E n DS as a
Speaker 2: discount code and you get twenty percent and again that
Speaker 2: go to support our goals and our mission and in
Speaker 2: particular to help the Access Project to open up its stores.
Speaker 1: Well, as we said, it's all to raise money and
Speaker 1: awareness for the Access Project, and I highly recommend people
Speaker 1: check out the website. Having said that, at eleven am,
Speaker 1: it starts, So it's just a reminder that it's never
Speaker 1: too early or too late. Maybe open up a bottle
Speaker 1: of wine. So we're going to do that. I'm gonna
Speaker 1: hopefully not break the court because I've been known to
Speaker 1: do that. But you were kind enough to send over
Speaker 1: a bottle of Vernos, and I want you to talk
Speaker 1: a little bit about it as I open it up,
Speaker 1: and maybe Jess and Ile'll.
Speaker 2: Sample, Yeah, for sure. So that's just one of the
Speaker 2: many wines that will be serving. And to break the cork, no,
Speaker 2: you to break it. Good, good, good. So this is
Speaker 2: one of the wines that I visited and I got
Speaker 2: to taste. This is made from a grape called vidiano,
Speaker 2: so completely indigenous to the island of Crete southbound from
Speaker 2: the mainland of Greece. Really just an extraordinary place, absolutely beautiful,
Speaker 2: and this is made by a wonderful producer called Sylvia Desklaki.
Speaker 2: Just fresh, salty, mineral, everything that you want, especially in
Speaker 2: this kind of weather where it's hot, muggy. I just
Speaker 2: think it's complex, it's got a lot of layers to it.
Speaker 2: And again that's just one of many wines, one of
Speaker 2: many very unique wines made from really, you know, beautiful producers,
Speaker 2: family owned producers, small producers that just focus on quality
Speaker 2: and it's really a great opportunity to learn about wine.
Speaker 2: We'll also have some cocktails. There are some great beers
Speaker 2: as well featured.
Speaker 1: Well, you know, it's interesting. I'm a red person. I
Speaker 1: think you know that because we've talked. This is really
Speaker 1: lovely and it's light, and I could see it going
Speaker 1: with a lot of stuff as you travel. You know,
Speaker 1: it's interesting too. I feel like more and more folks
Speaker 1: that either own and run restaurants are running vineyards, like
Speaker 1: they're constantly looking for something a little bit different, and
Speaker 1: I think we all get caught in kind of the establishment.
Speaker 1: And I love that we're seeing more and more new vineyards,
Speaker 1: new innovation, if you will, and just tell me what
Speaker 1: you're seeing you as you travel around and look for
Speaker 1: kind of new either vineyards or wine to kind of
Speaker 1: bring to the public.
Speaker 3: For sure.
Speaker 2: I mean, I think the one thing that I'm seeing
Speaker 2: is just the sophistication and the amount of work that's
Speaker 2: done as far as farming goes, you know, really the
Speaker 2: respect to the land, sustainability, you know, wanting to really
Speaker 2: create an environment as far as farming goes, that that
Speaker 2: will last for generations to come. I Mean, the one
Speaker 2: thing that you always hear from winemakers is that I
Speaker 2: want my kids to be able to play in those vineyards.
Speaker 2: And sometimes you know, their kids can't play in those
Speaker 2: vineyards because they're spraying bungal sides, pesticides, you name it.
Speaker 2: But a lot of the vineyards now globally are kind
Speaker 2: of staying away from that and really just working alongside
Speaker 2: nature and doing things as organically and natural as possible.
Speaker 2: And that's the one thing that I'm really seeing. And
Speaker 2: also sustainability also, rich is really important, respect to the staff,
Speaker 2: respect to their employees that are working there, providing them
Speaker 2: with respectable wage, housing insurance and all that. So that's
Speaker 2: really a lot of I mean, you've seen a lot
Speaker 2: of great changes when it comes to that.
Speaker 3: What do you think is the main catalyst for change
Speaker 3: when it comes to inclusivity.
Speaker 2: Well, I think, you know, one thing that we've seen,
Speaker 2: you know, during these last few years is where I'm
Speaker 2: seeing at least more than ever more black and brown
Speaker 2: people drinking wine that are involved in wine in restaurants,
Speaker 2: which is really really key. And I'm you know, I
Speaker 2: think for too long, the majority of the business of
Speaker 2: wine and restaurants were male, white individuals that look like me,
Speaker 2: and now we're seeing way more people that are just
Speaker 2: the diversity it's growing. There's still plenty of work that
Speaker 2: needs to be done, there's no doubt about that. We
Speaker 2: still have a long way to go, but definitely there's
Speaker 2: been a lot of improvement. And I think nothing makes
Speaker 2: me happier when I go to a vineyard and I
Speaker 2: see that there are so many more women winemakers out there,
Speaker 2: There are more people people of black and brown that
Speaker 2: are making wines. I mean, just recently, it's just extraordinary,
Speaker 2: believe it or not, I just tasted a wine from
Speaker 2: Iran and it's an extraordinary project. They were able to
Speaker 2: get the grapes from Iran, have a chipped to Sweden
Speaker 2: and they made the wine in Sweden because obviously you
Speaker 2: can't make alcohol in Iran, so those are just kind
Speaker 2: of like that. So it's just well, you know, the
Speaker 2: world of wine just encompasses history, geography, all of your book.
Speaker 1: You're creating incredible communities. The Access Project is as well
Speaker 1: one on Wheel's Grand Tasting on September tenth, checking out everybody.
Speaker 1: Yanick be Well, thank you so much,