
First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford made history when both appeared in the opening episode of the famous two-hour TV cooking show, Iron Chef America, on Jan. 3, 2010. The brief appearance of the First Lady made her the first spouse of a US President ever to appear in a reality TV show.
The White House Executive Chef is responsible for the planning, managing and preparing of all menus and meals for the First Family and their private entertaining, and official state functions at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States.
The executive chef heads the three White House kitchens, a staff of four sous-chefs, and reports directly to the chief usher. The executive chef works with the First Lady, Chief Usher, White House Social Secretary and the Executive Pastry Chef to plan menus for State Dinners, receptions, and day-to-day non-official meals. The executive chef officially serves at the president's pleasure but more commonly works with the first lady, and is appointed, or reappointed, by each administration.
In history, there have some White House Executive Chef :
1.Rene Verdon 1961-1965
2.Henry Haller 1966-1987
3.Jon Hill 1987-1988
4.Hans Raffert 1988-1990
5.Pierre Chambrin 1990-1994
6.Walter Scheib 1994-2005
7.Cristeta Pasia Comerford 2005-present
Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent to take on the role of cooking for the American President.. Was born in Sampaloc, Manila. She completed her secondary education at the Manila Science High School. She attended the University of the Philippines, Diliman in Quezon City and majored in food technology. However, she did not earn her degree as she left school to immigrate to the United States
Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford has been cooking for the White House since Clinton administration was in power. She has been named the Executive Chef in 2005 and has held the post ever since.
Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford said in a statement that her Filipino heritage made her better equipped to meet the challenge of feeding the family of President Barack Obama a healthy diet. First Lady Michelle Obama shares Comerford’s preference for healthy food.
Mrs. Obama, in her brief remarks, made her pitch for a pet project called the Healthy Kids Initiative that aims to reduce childhood obesity through improved school lunches, farmers market, community gardens, and exercise.






