By Paul Reitano
MJ Wynne is the type of person who thinks about dinner during lunch, which is to say; she is wonderful. She runs the children’s program at Trinity Church in New Canaan. It’s a remarkable church and my kids are particularly eager to see MJ each Sunday. I am too. In life, I’ve found that the people willing to discuss fresh mozzarella before noon; these are the best people. MJ is one of them. We sat down together at the New Canaan Butcher Shop – home to many outstanding sandwiches, and we ate MJ’s favorite as we talked about life, God, and chicken cutlets.
Q: How did your career teaching children at Trinity start?
A: I was churchless for years, working at the library in Old Greenwich, and it was just fate. I knew the Pastor’s daughter quite well and she invited me one week. It’s been my home for seven years. I’ve taught children my entire career, but these have been some of the most rewarding moments of my life. God led me there. I truly believe that.
Q: But children, they’re – how do I say this – so annoying.
A: Learning how to work with kids and love kids isn’t something you do overnight. I want kids to know and love Jesus. I teach them that they have to love God and love one another.
Q: My daughter is learning to play Three Blind Mice on the Viola. It makes me very angry.
A: Don’t be angry. She’s lovely. Look, God sent his son here to tell us how to live, how to act.
Q: Fair. So, when you’re not thinking about God – are you thinking about food?
A: Yes. My entire day revolves around it. Can I go to Westport market to get the bread I like? When can I go back to Arthur Avenue to get the good grated cheese I want? It never ends.
Q: Being obsessed with food – it’s a gift or a burden?
A: It’s a gift because I know good food. I love it, I relish it, I appreciate it. It’s a burden because bad food makes me angry.
Q: Interesting. So, if someone gave you a sandwich with bad bread – what would happen?
A: I would want to throw it on the floor and step on it.
Q: Even more interesting. To demoralize the bad bread?
A: No, I’d probably just open it up, eat the insides, and give the bread back for them to toast it.
Q: If Jesus had a favorite pasta sauce, what would it be?
A: A fresh marinara, with tomatoes from the garden. A quick cook, not too long, and then some good crusty bread.
Q: You think Jesus was a crusty bread guy?
A: Oh, definitely. And everything had to be fresh, everything from the garden.
Q: Do you think God wants us to eat well? And by well, I mean only the good stuff?
A: I’m not sure there’s much of that in the Bible.
Q: Does that explain all the bad restaurants in Connecticut?
A: Possibly. It’s not on his priorities list.
Q: What do you love about the New Canaan Butcher Shop?
A: The food is all very good. It’s well seasoned and balanced. Paul Paris, who owns and runs it, thinks about all the right things. Talk to him about how he makes his chicken cutlets. That’s a religious experience all by itself.
Q: How does he make his chicken cutlets?
A: He does the egg wash in a certain order – he’s using half breadcrumbs, half panko. This guy cares.
Q: Good bread?
A: The best. He gets it from Terranova in the Bronx. That’s as good as you can do.
Q: You’re familiar with Terranova?
A: Of course. My father used to wake us up at 7am on Sunday Mornings to go get fresh bread from the Bronx at Terranova. This is the best place.
Q: Well, I’m sold. And your favorite sandwich?
A: The J.P. Morgan. It’s a fantastic Chicken cutlet, thick prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, roasted red peppers, arugula, and a balsamic glaze. It’s one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time.
Q: MJ, you are the oracle of bread and mozzarella. It has been an honor.
A: See you on Sunday.
