Peoria Times
16 FEATURES
December 30, 2021
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Thai Chili 2 Go is heating up Peoria BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
Akshat Sethi had an itch. The successful financier/entrepreneur wanted to try his hand at being a restaurateur. Like everything he touches, he found gold. Thai Chili 2 Go has become an Arizona favorite and, recently, it opened a store in Peoria. Through Friday, Dec. 31, the Peoria location at 16955 N. 75th Avenue is giving guests one free order of six crispy Thai chicken dumplings and hoisin sauce with a purchase of an entrée. Those ordering online can use the code PEORIA13 upon checkout. “My family approached me about doing something in the restaurant (industry),” said Sethi, who moved here from New Delhi, India, at age 23. “My
The majority of Thai Chili 2 Go’s menu is geared toward rice and noodles. (Photo courtesy of Thai Chili 2 Go)
background is in financial services. I concurred, and I love it.” The real boom came with Thai Chili 2 Go, a chain of fast-casual restaurants that simplifies the Asian country’s cuisine. Sethi has 12 Thai Chili 2 Go eateries throughout the Valley — with more to come. “Our expansion plans are aggressive,” Sethi said. “New stores here were delayed by the COVID-19 supply chain issues and construction delays. We’re looking at a couple more stores in the first quarter 2022.” Those include Maricopa, a location that was frequently requested, he said. “We like to listen to what our customers want, and if we can act on it, we do,” Sethi said. “We have a Downtown SEE THAI PAGE 18
CreatiVets empowers wounded veterans through arts
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
Joel Shewmake has written songs for the likes of Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan, Lonestar and Jerrod Niemann. He calls being in a room with Purple Heart recipient Adam Mitchell an “honor.” The two penned the single “I’m With You” as part of a monthly project helmed by Nashville-based nonprofit CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group. They release a new veteran-written track on the 20th of every month to pay tribute to the 20 veterans and active-duty members who die by suicide every day. “I’m still flabbergasted that I would be allowed to get in a room and share in the stories and be a part of Adam’s pro-
Adam Mitchell, Purple Heart receipient. (Photo courtesy of CreatiVets)
cess,” said Shewmake, also the featured artist on “I’m With You.” “I would like to keep being involved.”
Written by veteran Mitchell and his mentor Greg Pihs alongside Shewmake and fellow songwriter Brian Davis, the song is meant to serve as a form of therapy for the involved veterans. For Mitchell, finding the program was fate. Since sustaining several injuries to the head and neck while serving overseas in 2005, he has struggled with communication, memory and balance and continues to navigate the difficulties around post-traumatic stress. “It’s real and emotional,” Mitchell said about “I’m With You.” “Writing is an easier way for me to express myself.” Mitchell is new to music, although he does jot down lyrics to clear his mind. He has played the drums since 1993, and he is learning the guitar. Shewmake, however, is a longtime songwriter. He moved from Cookev-
ille, Tennessee, to Nashville to pursue a career in music among the millions of others who desire the same thing. To become successful, Shewmake networked with other songwriters. “If it hadn’t been for songwriting, I wouldn’t be able to manage my emotions,” he said. “I know I can put words on paper just to let some of the emotions out. It can be a terrible song. It’s just nice to get some of that stuff written down, even if you throw it away. “If I couldn’t do that, it would have been a harder life.” Throughout Shewmake’s career, he has had his fair share of rejection, but projects like this one with Mitchell make it all worthwhile. “You get to see what music is supposed to be doing,” he said. “For 20 SEE VETERANS PAGE 18
