INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — At the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction the food was good, actually, great. But the news was even better: premature babies’ chance of living healthier lives has improved considerably thanks to medical advances and research, much of it backed by the March of Dimes Foundation.
“It’s a huge deal,” Pam Crawley, director of March of Dimes Treasure Coast Division, said of the big strides.
There was much buzz over the implementation by hospitals of a recent policy to resist inducing labor and performing Caesarean sections in non-emergency situations prior to 39 weeks. The reason: research shows that most brain development for a fetus occurs in the last few weeks of full-term pregnancy. Thus, vital brain development can be affected by early deliveries. Over 100 hospitals nationwide that March of Dimes works with currently implements the policy.
Indian River Medical Center is one of them, and received the first so-called Quality Initiative Hospital Banner Recognition in Florida for doing so.
“Each year, we bring 1,200 new babies into the world,” said Cindy Vanek, chief operating officer of IRMC said of the hospital.
There is a reason why there is a nine month gestation period. Highlighting the importance of doctors not performing uncritical early deliveries, Vanek added, “Vital organs are maturing, things are growing. Babies need to be as strong as possible when entering this world.”
Too many cooks spoiling the broth was not a factor at last Monday’s event. Nineteen of the area’s top chefs converged at The Moorings Club dining room to offer samplings of their culinary talent.
“There’s always a good vibe here,” said David Rodriguez, who founded the event in Vero Beach four years ago. The owner and executive chef of Cork and Tapas whipped up a ceviche with scallops and baby oysters, peppers, onions and cilantro. “No one’s talking about whose restaurant is better. It’s for the March of Dimes. We donate, time, money and product.”
Guests mingled and munched, tasting samplings at food stations throughout the sprawling dining room.
Among the chefs were Quail Valley Golf Club’s Joe Faria who prepared Taylor scallop, Maine lobster ceviche, egg yolk filled ravioli with maple glazed hickory and smoked pork belly heirloom tomato provencal; and Jeff McKinney, chef at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, created a unique trio of duck dumplings, shaved foie gras and duck consommé.
Also, The Wave Kitchen & Bar chef Antonio Estremera offered red wine braised veal cheek with fresh herbs, trumpet mushrooms and ragout of navy beans with bacon and mustard greens; chef Wesley Campbell of Mo-Bay Grill featured chicken breast medallions sautéed in onions and bell peppers in a coconut sauce; and chef Adrienne Drew-Perry of Catering by Adrienne Drew and The Gourmet Sandwich Shop slow cooked chicken simmered in a sweet curry sauce.
“These chefs are en par with those in Europe and New York,” observed a delighted Nadja Ricci, chairwoman of the event. “There is a culinary culture here in Vero.”
The evening attended by 150 guests featured a silent and live auction, and ‘fund the mission’ which is when the auctioneer starts with an amount and someone raises their bidding paddle, then this goes straight to the foundation as a donation.
Sponsors included the George E. Warren Corporation, the Herman F. Becker family, Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach Magazine and Bill and Mary Ann Becker.
The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies’ lives.
Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death in the United States. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk of lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, lung problems, vision and hearing loss, and learning disabilities, according to the March of Dimes.
At the end of the evening, Ricci told her personal story of being a mother of a premature baby and how it changed her life.
“My toughest time in my life was when I was a mother of a premature baby,” she recalled. That baby is now a healthy teenager.
“Luckily things worked out with the help of medical advances in the care for premature babies, many of which are funded by March of Dimes,” she said.
