Cristeta Comerford facts for kids
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| Born | Cristeta Gomez Pasia October 27, 1962 Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines |
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| Cooking style | French |
| Education | University of the Philippines Diliman (dropped out) |
| Spouse | John Comerford |
Cristeta Comerford is a very talented chef. She was the head chef at the White House in the United States for many years. This is a very important job! She was the first woman and the first person of Asian background to hold this position. She started in 2005 and retired in 2024.
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Early Life and Education
Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Gomez Pasia in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. Her father was a school principal. She grew up in Manila and went to Manila Science High School.
She studied food technology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. However, she moved to the United States when she was 23 years old. She left school before finishing her degree.
Becoming a White House Chef
Cristeta Comerford's first job in the U.S. was at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago. She also worked at the Hyatt Regency hotel. Later, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a chef in two restaurants there. She even spent six months cooking in Vienna, Austria.
In 1995, she was invited to work at the White House. The head chef at the time, Walter Scheib III, hired her as an assistant chef. This was during the time of President Bill Clinton.
Leading the White House Kitchen
In 2005, the head chef resigned. First Lady Laura Bush chose Cristeta Comerford to be the new White House Executive Chef. This was a big deal because she was the first woman to ever have this job! She was chosen after she successfully managed a large dinner for the Prime Minister of India.
When Barack Obama became president in 2009, his wife, Michelle Obama, decided to keep Cristeta Comerford as the head chef. Michelle Obama said she liked that Cristeta was also a mom. She shared Michelle's ideas about healthy eating for families.
Beyond the White House Kitchen
Cristeta Comerford also appeared on a special TV show called Iron Chef America in 2010. She teamed up with famous chef Bobby Flay to compete against other chefs.
As a chef for a head of state (like the President), Cristeta Comerford was part of a special group called Le Club des Chefs des Chefs. This is a club for chefs who cook for world leaders!
Cristeta Comerford retired from her role at the White House in July 2024.
Personal Life
Cristeta Comerford is married to John Comerford. They have a daughter named Danielle. While she worked at the White House, they lived in Columbia, Maryland. After she retired, they planned to move to South Florida.
