1. Cristeta Pasia Comerford is a Filipino-American chef who served as the White House executive chef from 2005 until her retirement in 2024.
13 Facts About Cristeta Comerford
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Cristeta Comerford is the first woman and first person of Asian origin to hold the post.
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Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Gomez Pasia in Sampaloc, Manila, the Philippines to Honesto Pasia, a public school assistant principal, and Erlinda Gomez.
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Cristeta Comerford grew up on Cataluna Street in Sampaloc, Manila.
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Cristeta Comerford completed her secondary education at the Manila Science High School.
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Cristeta Comerford attended the University of the Philippines, Diliman in Quezon City, majoring in food technology.
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Cristeta Comerford additionally spent six months in Vienna as a rotating chef.
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Cristeta Comerford was recruited by White House executive chef Walter Scheib III in 1995 to work in the Clinton White House as an assistant chef.
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Cristeta Comerford reportedly was appointed to this position due to her handling of a large dinner that was held in honor of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.
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On January 9,2009, the Obama transition team announced that Cristeta Comerford would be retained as the administration's head chef.
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Cristeta Comerford appeared on a special two-hour episode of Iron Chef America, originally broadcast on January 2,2010.
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Cristeta Comerford was teamed up with Bobby Flay and competed against a team of Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali.
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Cristeta Comerford is married to John Cristeta Comerford, with whom she has a daughter, Danielle.