Darling Oyster Bar Chef to Headline March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction

Press Release

For the last 24 years, Charleston March of Dimes has been adding a little flavor to fighting for moms and babies. This year, March of  Dimes is pleased to announce award winning Executive Chef Derick Wade (right) of The Darling Oyster Bar as the 2023 Lead Chef of the Signature Chefs Feeding Motherhood event.

Chef Wade shares, “It is an honor to be the Lead Chef for such an amazing cause. I have had the opportunity to work some great charity events over the years although March of Dimes holds a special place in my heart. My daughter Ava June was  born with a heart defect. She had to undergo two different heart surgeries before she was six months old and shortly after the second operation she passed away. I can’t even describe the pain, sadness and anger I felt and how it ultimately changed everything in my life overnight. The effects of losing a child are life shattering. No one can truly understand this except one who has experienced the loss. Anything that I can  do to possibly keep another parent from going through that loss or help another parent who has, I’m in 100 percent. This is what March of Dimes is all about and I could not be more excited to help raise money for this great cause.”

Twelve of Charleston’s finest Chefs will be joining Chef Wade Thursday, November 16th at Charleston Marriott in orchestrating an evening of culinary excellence. Through tastings, live auction packages, and the night of experience, every participating chef and  restaurant is helping March of Dimes combat premature birth, birth defects, infant loss, and maternal mortality and morbidity. Last year’s Chef lineup was one to remember, including 2022 Lead Chef Heyward Davis with Francis Marion, Circa 1886, Cru Catering, Halls Chophouse, Wild Common at Cannon Green, Zero Restaurant + Bar,  Hank’s Seafood Restaurant, Butcher and Bee, The Kingstide, Edmunds Oast, and  Lowcountry Oyster Company. Be on the lookout to see which culinary talent will be  making an impact on moms and babies in 2023.

When restaurants and their Executive Chefs say yes to partnering with March of Dimes, they are giving so much more than a tasting dish to event attendees. Each Chef gives their time, resources, and heart to further the mission of March of Dimes. For Chefs, it’s  all in the details especially when it comes to Chef Wade’s 2022 tasting dish, “Spanish Octopus.” Chef Wade gives us a look behind the curtain on how his night of tastings came to life.

These are “off the menu” dishes, with that, brainstorming and sometimes even trial tastings are put into designing a special dish for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gala. These Chefs aren’t afraid to take whisks! To curate a unique dish with fresh flavor Chef uses local farms and fishermen. He even partners with industry vendors to acquire donations for the food. Down to the broccolini and Pickled Peruvian Peppers, local vendors have a hand in bringing this dish to life too! They’ve poured in the time, utilized their resources, all to raise funds for the lifesaving mission of March of Dimes.

Funds raised from the Signature Chefs Auction are invested in groundbreaking  research, education, and advocacy to help level the playing field for moms and babies. March of Dimes is proud to have Chef Wade advocating for its mission. Get to know this year’s Lead Chef: Wisconsin native Derick Wade attributes his love of cooking to the time spent by his grandmother’s side in her kitchen. At a young age, Wade recognized the power food had to bring people together, and from that point on, knew exactly what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Wade’s culinary roots span across the globe – from Alaska to Russia, Hawaii to Bulgaria, and well-traveled destinations between. Over the years, Wade curated a  staggeringly diverse set of experiences and culinary skills and took Charleston by a delicious storm since moving to the Lowcountry nearly 10 years ago. Prior to becoming executive chef at The Darling, Wade spent 5 influential years with Kiawah Island Golf Resort. He had the unique opportunity to recruit and train culinary  interns from several prestigious schools including The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales, and helped the human resources team at the Kiawah Island Golf Course with training courses for culinary employees which consisted of menu costing, writing seasonal menus, meat, butchery, & fish fabrication, and budgeting & forecasting  for the culinary departments.

Wade is no stranger to the intricacies of the kitchen – he brings his expansive culinary skills, team-focused strategy, and a lifelong love of learning and teaching to the team at The Darling Oyster Bar Charleston and soon to be Darling Oyster Bar Savannah His passion for simple yet beautiful dishes made with fresh, local ingredients is welcoming of all palates. When Wade is not perfectly executing award-winning dishes, you can find  him spending time with his beloved wife, Maria, and two sons, Lucas and Matthew. To support Chef Derick as Lead Chef or learn more about his personal “why” visit his Ambassador Page at: https://p2p.onecause.com/2023signaturechefsfeedingmotherhoodcharleston

Learn more about the Charleston Signature Chefs Feeding Motherhood gala: http://www.signaturechefs.org/event/charleston

Participating Chefs, restaurants, and sponsors all imagine a world in which every baby has the opportunity to thrive, live the future they choose, and grow up to change the  world. In addition to Presenting Sponsor, Atlas Tech, sponsors of note include Gold Sponsors, Scout Boats, Children’s Cancer Cooperative Inc., Bill Hall Remembrance  Sponsors, East Cooper Medical Center, Halls Chophouse, Advanced Technology  International, and Endeavor Insurance Services. In-Kind sponsors include inventivENVIRONMENTS, Ross Printing, Target Market, and Charleston Living  Magazine.

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can  have the best possible start. Building on a successful 85-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Restaurants, sponsors or patrons interested in joining the event should contact Audrey Flores at AFlores@marchofdimes or 843.934.4269. 

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