Sarah Wade

Executive Chef, AVIA, The Woodlands Hotel

With nearly eight years experience, including a stint as a food production teaching assistant at her alma mater and an internship at a well Julia Robinson Catering, LDT company in the United Kingdom where she displayed her talents for members of the Royal Family, Chef Wade most recently served as the Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage for the Marriott Houston and also donned toques at the Renaissance Houston Hotel and the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"My philosophy is that dining is a social event that should be served with good conversation and an exceptional bottle of wine."

While she may have whipped up unbelievable menus for Britain's high society, this Indianapolis-born innovator climbed the culinary ladder one rung at a time. While attending college she worked her way up from dishwasher to prep cook, from line cook to Executive chef.

She describes her culinary style as eclectic and enjoys putting her own signature touches on regional cuisines and dishes by adding unexpected flavors and pushing the palate beyond its comfort zone. Chef Wade's most recent endeavors include volunteering through the Chefs Move to Schools Program, Championed by Michelle Obama, in which chefs partner with schools to teach students about making healthy food choices.

An Oklahoma girl at heart, Sarah loves cooking and working around the country, but in the end, cookin dinner for friends and sharing food is one of her greatest pleasures.