By Paul Reitano
Jordan Terner has 30 cars, 17 peacocks, 3 dogs, 3 cats, 2 miniature horses, and an African Grey Parrot. What kind of person, you ask, would have 30 cars, 17 peacocks, 3 dogs, 3 cats, 2 miniature horses, and an African Grey Parrot? In this case – a very kind, down to earth, and funny one; a city kid with big dreams that are all very much coming true in New Canaan. Also there’s a puppy coming in the spring so it’ll be 4 dogs. What does a man who has an entire car dealership and his own zoo like to eat here in New Canaan? You wish you knew – and you will…in a moment.
Q: Jordan, when and why did you decide to bring your Fellini film to New Canaan?
A: My husband and I were selling our apartment in the West Village in the city and we were thinking maybe we’ll get something bigger uptown and then sort of on a whim we saw a house in New Canaan – it had a 7 car garage.
Q: And clearly there’s a car obsession.
A: Oh absolutely, I’m obsessed with cars – so is my husband. Both of our first words were “car” – so say our parents. And New Canaan has a fantastic car culture – so that was a pull.
Q: And the house with the 7 car garage?
A: Didn’t work out. We did however, end up in our dream home; a 250 year old farmhouse. It was a tree farm, and the “Eliza Weed” home. We love the house, the property and the location. We’re never moving.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I’m a plastic surgeon. I do mostly aesthetics of the breast and body.
Q: And do you love what you do?
A: I do. I love my patients. I love operating. I love using my hands.
Q: Go ahead – be honest. What would you fix?
A: Oh, no, you’re very handsome – you’re all set.
Q: You should know that this has so far been my favorite interview. When did you know you wanted to become a plastic surgeon?
A: When I was 5 years old.
Q: Do you remember the moment? Was it like, looking at Miss Piggy?
A: My mom used to read to me the New York Times science section on Sundays and there was an article about a boy who was in an accident whose face was reconstructed by a plastic surgeon. The boy was the exact same age as me, to the day. March 13th, 1984. And I was like, that’s what I want to do when I get older.
Q: Is everyone in the entire universe on Ozempic?
A: I would say 80 percent of my patients are on some sort of GLP-1.
Q: Good for business?
A: Great for business. People are feeling better about themselves. With weight loss, patients are needing breast lifts, tummy tucks for excess skin. Also I think drugs like Ozempic kind of get a bad rap as an easy way out. Or that It’s dangerous. It actually has a very good safety profile. People are getting healthier. I view it as a positive.
Q: I drive by your house often and I noticed that you recently decided to remove your entire roof.
A: We’re adding a historically appropriate third floor.
Q: Is it chaos?
A: It’s actually not. My contractor is an angel. She’s a woman. I’ll always hire a woman contractor. Women are honest and fastidious and better at most things than men – even though we don’t like to admit that.
Q: I can quote you on this?
A: You can quote me on this.
Q: Back to the cars. What are some of your favorites from the fleet?
A: We have a Lamborghini Diablo. The Diablo was a car I always loved from the first time I saw it on Dumb and Dumber.
Q: Unexpected reference – but a great film.
A: We were just in Aspen last week and the one liners were flowing. The Diablo we have is 1 of 30. It’s a special edition, very unique and bright green.
Q: Interesting color.
A: We also have a Jaguar XJ220 – which was always a special car to me.
Q: The Need For Speed car – awesome.
A: It’s also green.
Q: Do you and your husband both like green – or is one of you into blue and the other yellow?
A. We both love green.
Q: Jordan – is it possible that you have too many cars?
A: No, the issue is we don’t have enough storage. They’re in a warehouse that can only hold about thirty cars.
Q: So if you had a bigger warehouse-
A: We’d absolutely have more cars.
Q: Is it only cars in the warehouse or do you have like, a Mr. Softee truck?
A: No Mr. Softee, but we had a Swiss transport truck from the 60’s that was massive and ran on propane. Andrew was mortified to drive it around. We sold it.
Q: The cars, the parrot, what’s the end game here?
A: Basically I want to create a world for my family with all the things I love. A world, not just a home, for my family and extended family to all be together. I have this silly dream that the house will remain a place for my grandkids.
Q: You came from the West Village before New Canaan. Many wonderful food options there. How have you adjusted to suburban cuisine?
A: The thing is; I love food – and I love good food. But I’m also content with….mediocre food.
Q: Connecticut is perfect for you then. What’s your ideal, really mediocre meal?
A: Sure. Like a cheeseburger from…anywhere.
Q: I love anywhere’s burger.
A: Also; supermarket sushi.
Q: When you want something that has actual flavor, where do you go?
A: Some of my favorite food from New Canaan is actually the prepared food from Walter Stewarts.
Q: I’d mainline the pot pie from there.
A: Our nanny will go there at the beginning of the week and just fill our fridge with prepared foods, and that’s what we’ll eat for the week.
Q: I’d like to drive your Diablo up and down Dan’s Highway and then eat all your Walter Stewart’s chicken salad.
A: It’s good to dream.
Q: What about restaurants?
A: When we have our friends from the city come up there are four places we will take them. The Inn at Pound RIdge, Bedford Post, The Farmer and The Fish, and, our favorite at the moment; The Tavern At Grey Barns. The duck there is quite good.
Q: This works much better. Peacocks. Lamborghini. Duck.
A: We like it there.
Q: Thank you for taking the time. Oh, actually, one last question.
A: Yes?
Q: Where do the peacocks go when it’s very cold?
A: They have an aviary and indoor heated coop.
Q: Sounds nice. But, what they really need…is their own Diablo.
A: I’m on it.
