52 DECEMBER 2022 Happy Holidays from all of us at Arcadia News (and Patrick and Zack Cheke). ARCADIANEWS.COM / ARCADIAHO.ME Author, advocate and activist Linda Hirshman to attend Book Club on December 10. PAGE 29 This Hanukkah prepare a three-course feast inspired by the Festival of Lights. Camelback High students create a drive to replenish the food bank and curb local hunger. PAGE 20 PAGE 55 December 2015 Vol. 23 No. 9 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM Happy Holidays from all of us at Arcadia News (and a younger Patrick and Zack Cheke)! By Melissa Hirschl One could say that Chris French and Pat Jasmin know a lot about wine with both of them having been in the industry for a combined 20+ years. So when they decided to open a business together, they knew that drink would be the focus. Far Away Wine and Provisions, located at 32nd St. and Indian School Road, recently celebrated its first anniversary. The entrepreneurial “partners-in-wine” met while working at Valley of the Sun Fine Wine distributors. They bonded over their shared vision of opening a unique wine bar. “We started traveling to big cities and wondered why Phoenix didn’t have many wine bars,” Chris said. They continued their travels, visiting wineries in California, Oregon and France to deepen their knowledge. “While we were in France – for a few weeks – we found we could tolerate each other,” Chris laughed. “That’s how we knew we could run a business together.” Far Away is a mecca for wine enthusiasts who crave a cozy atmosphere and a dazzling selection of 400 local and international wines. Arizona, California, Oregon, New Mexico, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands are just a sampling of the regions showcased. The bottles dutifully stand at attention along an entire wall. For those who choose to linger, the menu includes snacks like artisan cheese, meat, seafood tins of mussels and tuna, salads, sandwiches, and savory desserts such as chive cheesecake from Pie Snob. The retail area is also chock full of temptations. Patrons can purchase olive oils and other condiments, wine glasses, beer, champagne and gourmet food items such as tuna pate and Italian grilled seabass. Chris and Pat’s vision really came to life in the form of an extensive, eclectic collection of vintage records that they happily play upon request. Fifties- style furniture, fringe, rock and roll concert posters and even a “velvet” Elvis round out the funky and intimate ambiance. The success of Far Away correlates to the owner’s depth of knowledge of fine wine, restaurant ownership and retail distribution. A fine wine and spirits wholesaler, Chris has been in the business since 1996. He was steeped in the food industry because his dad enjoyed cooking for many years. “After a long career in the computer world, he went to culinary school and became the chef for the Dial Corporation,” Chris said. Pat has been in every facet of the business, from owning a wine brokerage company to running the food and beverage department at the Sanctuary Resort for five years. Since opening, the duo has been revving the engine of Far Away by continually adding to the inventory and developing imaginative new provisions. An example is “Chive Talking,” a savory chive cheesecake drizzled with lavender red-chili honey. “Sometimes my husband and I order by the glass, and other times we buy a bottle. Pat is amazing. She can always sense my mood and provides the right wine,” Patron Natalie Lahr said. Wine, nosh, rock ‘n’ roll Chris French and Pat Jasmin

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