Cristeta Comerford

Cristeta Comerford

White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford working in the White House kitchen
Born	1962 (age 46–47) Philippines
Cooking style	American, French, and ethnic
Education	University of the Philippines, Diliman (Attended)

Cristeta Pasia Comerford (born 1962) has been the White House Executive Chef since 2005. She is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent.

Early life

Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Pasia in Philippines and grew up in Sampaloc, Manila. She completed her secondary education at the Manila Science High School. She attended the University of the Philippines, Diliman in Quezon City and majored in food technology. However, she did not earn her degree because she had left school to emigrate to the United States.

Career

She immigrated to the United States at the age of 23. Her first job was at the Sheraton Hotel near O'Hare International Airport. She also worked at the Hyatt Regency hotel. After Chicago, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a chef at two restaurants. She additionally spent six months in Vienna as a rotating chef. Comerford was recruited by executive chef Walter Scheib III in 1995 to work in the Clinton White House.

Scheib resigned as executive chef in February 2005. Comerford was appointed by First Lady Laura Bush on August 14, 2005. She is the first female executive chef and the first person of ethnic minority to hold this position.^[1]

She reportedly was appointed to this position due to her handling of a large dinner that was held in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.^[2]

She was referenced when George Bush mentioned about "his Philippine-American chef" to visiting Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in June 2008.

On January 9, 2009, the Obama transition team announced that Comerford would be retained as the administration's head chef.^[3] Michelle Obama stated, "Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families." ^[4]

She will be appearing on the January 3rd episode of Iron Chef America. She will teaming up with Bobby Flay to compete agianst the team of Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali.

Personal life

She lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her husband, John, and their daughter, Danielle.

Appearances in media

• "ABC NEWS VIDEO of First Lady Michelle Obama & her Executive Chef on Feb. 23, 2009". http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6939075. 
• Comerford is scheduled to appear in a special episode of Iron Chef America on January 3, 2010 entitled "Super Chefs Battle", in which she will be teamed with Bobby Flay against a team consisting of Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.

References

Further reading

• "Cristeta Comerford Named White House Executive Chef". http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050814-1.html. Retrieved August 15 2005. 
• "Hail to the Chef!". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/21/AR2005082101106.html?sub=AR. Retrieved August 22 2005. 
• "Pinoy and Mighty Proud of It! Cristeta Comerford makes it Big in the White House.". http://www.bangusresto.com/proud.html. Retrieved August 22 2006. 
• "Cristeta Comerford is White House Chef (Photos)". http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=2656. Retrieved January 10 2009. 
• "Yes, she can (cook)". http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1375517,FOO-News-obama14.article. Retrieved January 14 2009. 
• "The White House's commander in chef". http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/inauguration/la-fo-inaugurationbox14-2009jan14,0,4468079.story. Retrieved January 14 2009. 
• Newsweek: No White House Food Fight

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