Waco, Texas – Kitchen duties may have traditionally been viewed as women’s work, but not at the White House.
Until now.
Cristeta Comerford has been named executive chef.
After an extensive six-month search, first lady Laura Bush announced Sunday that Comerford was chosen from hundreds of applicants to head the executive kitchen.
A naturalized U.S. citizen from the Philippines, she will be the first woman and first minority to hold the post.
The 42-year-old Comerford has been an assistant chef at the White House for 10 years. She worked under former executive chef Walter Scheib, who resigned in February.
Scheib said Sunday that Comerford was, hands down, the best assistant he had in his 30- year career and is a wonderful choice to take over. He said she is a great cook with an artistic eye and a calm demeanor that can handle the pressure cooker that is the White House kitchen.
“People keep talking about how wonderful it is that she’s a woman,” Scheib said in a telephone interview. “If there is value in the gender, that’s fine and dandy. But I say she’s a great chef who happens to be a woman.”
While being executive chef at the White House is prestigious, the job can be grueling. Comerford will be in charge of whipping up everything from state dinners for world leaders to munchies for the commander in chief, his family and guests.
As many as 2,000 guests a month are fed at the White House.
Laura Bush said she was delighted that Comerford accepted the job.
“Her passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations,” the first lady said in a statement.
Comerford developed the menu for last month’s honorary dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The 134 dinner guests dined on chilled asparagus soup and lemon creme; pan-roasted halibut, ginger-carrot butter, basmati rice with pistachio nuts and currants and herbed summer vegetables; and salad of Bibb lettuces and citrus vinaigrette.
Comerford will have ample opportunity to oversee more simple fare – the Bushes are known for staying in most nights rather than socializing like their predecessors. The president has a liking for cheeseburgers, peanut-butter and honey sandwiches and, of course, Tex-Mex and barbecue.
Comerford has a bachelor’s degree in food technology from the University of the Philippines.
She has worked at Le Ciel in Vienna and at restaurants at two Washington hotels.
The job pays about $80,000 to $100,000 a year.
