- Cristeta Comerford
-
Cristeta Comerford 
White House Executive Chef Incumbent Assumed office
August 14, 2005President George W. Bush
Barack ObamaPreceded by Walter Scheib Personal details Born 1962 (age 48–49)
Sampaloc, Manila, PhilippinesAlma mater University of the Philippines, Diliman Major in Food Technology.
Cristeta Pasia Comerford (born 1962) is a Filipino American 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.
Contents
Early life
Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Pasia in the Philippines and grew up at Sampaloc, Manila. She completed her secondary education at the Manila Science High School. She attended the University of the Philippines, Diliman in Quezon City, majoring in food technology. However, she left school before completing the degree when she immigrated to the United States at the age of 23.
Career
Comerford's 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 White House executive chef Walter Scheib III in 1995 to work in the Clinton White House.
After Scheib resigned in February 2005, Comerford was appointed White House executive chef by First Lady Laura Bush on August 14, 2005. Comerford is the first female White House executive chef and the first person of ethnic minority origin 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 referred to when George Bush mentioned 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]
Comerford appeared on a special two hour episode of Iron Chef America, originally broadcast on January 2, 2010. She was teamed up with Bobby Flay and competed against a team of Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali.[5] Comerford and Flay were triumphant.
Personal life
She lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her husband, John, and their daughter, Danielle.
See also
References
- ^ Office of the First Lady (2005-08-14). "Cristeta Comerford Named White House Executive Chef". Press Release. The White House. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050814-1.html. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ Candy Sagon (2005-08-15). "Toque of the Town: White House Names 1st Female Executive Chef". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/14/AR2005081400625.html. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ Stacy Finz (2009-01-17). "Bay Area foodies ask: What will the Obamas eat?". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/17/MN3J15BRTM.DTL&type=food.
- ^ Lisa Tolin (2009-01-09). "Obama mother-in-law to join family in White House". Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090109/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_mother_in_law;_ylt=AinbSGEyTPfeF6J9wraew0IGw_IE. Retrieved 2009-01-09.[dead link]
- ^ Reid, Tim (4 January 2010). "White House cuisine put to reality test with Iron Chef appearance". TimesOnline (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6974698.ece. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
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!". The Washington Post. August 22, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/21/AR2005082101106.html?sub=AR. Retrieved August 22, 2005.
- "Cristeta Comerford is White House Chef (Photos)". http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=2656. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
- Marek, Lynne (January 14, 2009). "Yes, she can (cook)". Chicago Sun-Times. 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.[dead link]
- Newsweek: No White House Food Fight
- Cristeta Comerford Of Manila Philippines
External links
- "ABC NEWS VIDEO of First Lady Michelle Obama & her Executive Chef on Feb. 23, 2009". http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6939075.
Government offices Preceded by
Walter ScheibWhite House Executive Chef
2005–presentIncumbent Obama Administration personnel Executive Office of the President OfficeNameTermOfficeNameTermWhite House Chief of Staff
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Rahm Emanuel
Pete Rouse
William M. Daley
Mona Sutphen
Nancy-Ann DeParle2009–2010
2010-2011
2011-
2009-2011
2011-National Security Advisor
Deputy National Security Advisor
Jim Jones
Tom Donilon
Thomas E. Donilon
Denis McDonough2009–2010
2010-
2009–2010
2010-White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Senior Advisor to the President
Deputy Senior Advisor to the President
Counselor to the PresidentJim Messina
Alyssa Mastromonaco
David Axelrod
David Plouffe
Stephanie Cutter
Pete Rouse2009–2011
2011-
2009–2011
2011-
2011-
2009-Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan
Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic CommunicationsDouglas Lute†
Ben Rhodes
2009–
2009–Senior Advisor to the President and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement Valerie Jarrett
2009–
Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009– Director of Public Engagement
Christina Tchen
Jon Carson2009–2011
2011--Deputy National Security Advisor and NSC Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough
Brooke Anderson2009-2010
2011-Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009– White House Communications Director Daniel Pfeiffer 2009- Director, National Economic Council
Lawrence Summers
Gene Sperling2009–2010
2011-Deputy White House Communications Director
White House Press Secretary
Jennifer Psaki
Robert Gibbs
Jay Carney2009–
2009–2011
2011-Deputy Director, National Economic Council Diana Farrell 2009– Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009– Deputy Director, National Economic Council
Deputy Director, National Economic CouncilJason Furman
Brian Deese2009–
2011-Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010-2011 Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009– Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009– Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Christina Romer
Austan Goolsbee2009–2010
2010-White House Counsel
Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs
Robert Bauer
Phil Schiliro
Rob Nabors2009–
2009–2011
2011-Member of the Council of Economic Advisors Katharine Abraham 2011- Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Lisa Konwinski 2009– Member of the Council of Economic Advisors Cecilia Rouse 2009– Executive Clerk George T. Saunders† 2009– Director, Office of Management and Budget
Peter Orszag
Jacob Lew2009–2010
2010–Director, Office of Political Affairs
Chief Technology OfficerPatrick Gaspard
Aneesh Chopra2009–2011
2009–Chief Performance Officer and Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients
2009– Chief Information Officer
Director, Office of Presidential PersonnelVivek Kundra
Nancy Hogan2009–
2010–Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget
Jeffrey Liebman
Heather Higginbottom*2010–2010
2011-Director of Scheduling and Advance
Director, White House Military OfficeAlyssa Mastromonaco
Danielle Crutchfield
George D. Mulligan, Jr.2009–2011
2011-
2009–United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009– Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009– Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009– Deputy Cabinet Secretary Liz Sears Smith 2009– Deputy Director, Domestic Policy Council Heather Higginbottom 2009– Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009– Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009– Director, Office of Management and Administration Bradley Kiley 2009– Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy DeParle 2009–2011 Director, Oval Office Operations Micaela Fernandez 2009– Deputy Director, Office of Health Reform Jeanne Lambrew 2009– Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009– Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–2011 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009– Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal 2009– Special Projects Coordinator and Confidential Assistant to the President Eugene Kang
2009– Director, Council on Environmental Quality
Director, Office of National AIDS PolicyNancy Sutley
Jeffrey Crowley2009–
2009–Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Jackie Norris
Susan Sher
Christina Tchen2009
2009–2010
2011-Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009– White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers
Julianna Smoot
Jeremy Bernard2009–2010
2010–2011
2011–Director, Office of Urban Affairs Policy Adolfo Carrión, Jr. 2009– Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009– *Senate-confirmation pending. †Remained from previous administration(s). Office of the Vice President PositionAppointeePositionAppointeeChief of Staff to the Vice President Bruce Reed Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine Russell Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Jay Carney Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Alan Hoffman Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian McKeon Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell National Security Adviser to the Vice President Tony Blinken 
Categories:- 1962 births
- American chefs
- American people of Filipino descent
- Filipino chefs
- Filipino emigrants to the United States
- Living people
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- People from Howard County, Maryland
- People from Manila
- University of the Philippines alumni
- White House Executive Chefs
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