Cristeta Comerford, executive White House chef for 5 presidents, retires after 29 years
Cristeta Comerford, the White House executive chef who has served five different presidents, is retiring after nearly 30 years in the role, multiple outlets reported.
Comerford joined President Bill Clinton's White House staff as an assistant chef in 1995 under executive chef Walter Scheib III. She worked in the position until 2005, when former first lady Laura Bush promoted Comerford to executive chef, making her the first-ever woman to hold the title, the New York Times reported at the time.
Born in the Philippines, Comerford is also the first woman of color to hold the position.
“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. With all our hearts, Joe and I are filled with gratitude for her dedication and years of service,” First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement shared with CNN on Tuesday.
The White House confirmed to media outlets that Comerford's final day on the job will be Friday.
The White House did not immediately respond to Paste BN's request for comment.
Cristeta Comerford's White House legacy
As executive chef, Comerford led the charge in preparing not only day-to-day family meals but important public events like state dinners. She oversaw a team of three sous chefs and an executive pastry chef through the Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations.
Comerford was born in Manila and came to the United States at the age of 23, getting her start state-side working in restaurants in Chicago and Washington, D.C., before landing the White House role, reported CNN.
In a tribute posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, Spanish-American Michelin star chef and restauranter José Andrés called her a "national treasure" and "culinary diplomat" who had "shown the world how an immigrant can celebrate American food & share it with the world’s leaders."
"Congrats on retiring, we love you Cris," the post ended.
In a 2104 interview with CNN, Comerford shared some ingredients to her recipe for success, saying "temperance" is ultimately an important quality to excel in the prestigious position. "Because it’s not just your knowledge and your skills and the way you cook – it has to be the way you treat people, the way you delegate your work, the way you put your team as a cohesive force,” she said.