White House's Fil-Am executive chef Cristeta Comerford hangs up her apron | ABS-CBN
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White House's Fil-Am executive chef Cristeta Comerford hangs up her apron
TFC News
Published Aug 02, 2024 04:39 PM PHT
White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford. ABS-CBN News/File
White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford. ABS-CBN News/File WASHINGTON DC -- After serving five United States presidents for nearly 30 years, Cristeta Comerford is turning the stoves off and hanging up her apron.
WASHINGTON DC -- After serving five United States presidents for nearly 30 years, Cristeta Comerford is turning the stoves off and hanging up her apron.
Comerford, 61, is the first woman to become the executive chef at the White House, and is also the first Asian and Filipino-American to hold the position.
Comerford, 61, is the first woman to become the executive chef at the White House, and is also the first Asian and Filipino-American to hold the position.
She has cooked for presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, and their families.
She has cooked for presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, and their families.
"I always say, food is love. Through her barrier-breaking career, Chef Cris has led her team with warmth and creativity, and nourished our souls along the way," First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement, as reported by CNN.
"I always say, food is love. Through her barrier-breaking career, Chef Cris has led her team with warmth and creativity, and nourished our souls along the way," First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement, as reported by CNN.
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"With all our hearts, Joe (US president Joe Biden) and I are filled with gratitude for her dedication and years of service," she added.
"With all our hearts, Joe (US president Joe Biden) and I are filled with gratitude for her dedication and years of service," she added.
Comerford first worked at the White House as an assistant chef in 1995 under Clinton.
Comerford first worked at the White House as an assistant chef in 1995 under Clinton.
It was in 2005 when she was appointed to the executive chef position by First Lady Laura Bush, who was impressed with her cooking skills.
It was in 2005 when she was appointed to the executive chef position by First Lady Laura Bush, who was impressed with her cooking skills.
According to Comerford, great cooks run in her family. "My first food memories and experiences came from my lola. I grew up in Bulacan and they're well-known for their great cuisine and great cooking. All the women [were] helping in the kitchen and cooking together," she said.
According to Comerford, great cooks run in her family. "My first food memories and experiences came from my lola. I grew up in Bulacan and they're well-known for their great cuisine and great cooking. All the women [were] helping in the kitchen and cooking together," she said.
"My dad's hometown is Batangas, which is the other way around -- it's only men that are allowed to do cooking. So the women are not allowed to help out in the kitchen," she continued. "So I get both of these beautiful worlds of my father and my mother... I have two great cooks that really honed me into this person that I am today."
"My dad's hometown is Batangas, which is the other way around -- it's only men that are allowed to do cooking. So the women are not allowed to help out in the kitchen," she continued. "So I get both of these beautiful worlds of my father and my mother... I have two great cooks that really honed me into this person that I am today."
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In a past Fil-Am gathering, Comerford expressed her dream of passing the baton to the younger generation.
In a past Fil-Am gathering, Comerford expressed her dream of passing the baton to the younger generation.
"It's really been a great experience and opportunity but my commission for myself is to pass this along to the younger generation...That they'd be doing even more of what the previous Filipino-American has done for this country," she said.
"It's really been a great experience and opportunity but my commission for myself is to pass this along to the younger generation...That they'd be doing even more of what the previous Filipino-American has done for this country," she said.
Comerford graduated with a bachelor's degree in Food Technology at the University of the Philippines.
Comerford graduated with a bachelor's degree in Food Technology at the University of the Philippines.
Her 34 years of culinary experience also include working at fine dining restaurants in Washington DC and Chicago, as well as in Austria, Napa Valley, and France.
Her 34 years of culinary experience also include working at fine dining restaurants in Washington DC and Chicago, as well as in Austria, Napa Valley, and France.
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