Cristeta Comerford

Cristeta Pasia Comerford (born 1962) has been the White House Executive Chef since 2005. She is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent. Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Pasia in Philippines and grew up 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.... more

Cristeta Pasia Comerford (born 1962) has been the White House Executive Chef since 2005. She is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent. Cristeta Comerford was born as Cristeta Pasia in Philippines and grew up 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 because she had left school to emigrate to the United States. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 23. Her first job was at the Sheraton Hotel near O'Hare International Airport. She also worked at the Hyatt Regency hotel. After Chicago, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a chef at two restaurants. She additionally spent six months in Vienna as a rotating chef. Comerford was recruited by executive chef Walter Scheib III in 1995 to work in the Clinton White House. Scheib resigned as... less