Cristeta Comerford

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Cristeta Comerford

White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford working in the White House kitchen
Born 1962 (age 45–46)
The Philippines
Cooking style Unknown
Education Sheraton Hotel

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

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[edit] Early life

Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Pasia in The Philippines and grew up in the Sampaloc, Manila.

[edit] Education

She attended Manila Science High School for her secondary education. 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 immigrate to the United States.

[edit] 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 Filipina 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]

[edit] Personal life

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

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Office of the First Lady (2005-08-14). Cristeta Comerford Named White House Executive Chef. Press Release. The White House. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  2. ^ Candy Sagon. "Toque of the Town: White House Names 1st Female Executive Chef", Washington Post, 2005-08-15. Retrieved on 2008-04-30. 

[edit] References