Cristeta Comerford: Cristeta Comerford, Obama White House chef

Filipina chef Cristeta Comerford will remain as White House Executive Chef under the Obama administration. That was confirmed by Obama administration officials recently despite rumors and speculation to the contrary. This was later confirmed by incoming First Lady herself, Michelle Obama, when she announced that Cristeta Comerford will stay on as White House executive chef, putting to rest all the speculation surrounding the decision.

Right after Barack Obama won the presidency and focus shifted to his transition administration, including the staff of the Presidential residence, rumors ran rampant that the White House chef will also be replaced. This is because of the extreme difference in food preference between the outgoing and the incoming presidents. While George W. Bush reportedly prefers BLTs, white-bread grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers, and wouldn't eat anything "green" or "wet", President-elect Barack Obama is partial to greens, fresh vegetables and other healthy foods - "meals straight from the garden".

Three names have even come up in the past as a possible replacement for Cristeta Comerford: Chef Art Smith, prepared Obama's meal at Oprah Winfrey's star-studded fund-raiser for the candidate at her home; Chef Rick Bayless of Chicago's Topolobampo, the Obamas' favorite haunt; and Chef Daniel Young, who cooked for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention. But in the end, Filipina chef Cristeta Comerford was chosen and will stay as White House Executive Chef.

Cristeta Comerford took the job in 2005 and is the first woman and first minority to serve as executive chef.

"Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family," Michelle Obama said in a statement released by the transition team. "Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families."

Cristeta Comerford is Pinay (slang for Filipina) and this news will make many of us, her Filipino countrymen, proud. She became White House Executive Chef in 2005 and is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent. Born in the Philippines, she attended the University of the Philippines and majored in food technology. However, she did not earn her degree because she had left school to immigrate to the United States. Her first job was at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago. She also worked at the Hyatt Regency. After Chicago, she moved to Washington DC, and worked as a chef at two restaurants. She additionally spent six months in Vienna as a rotating chef. Cristeta was recruited by executive chef Walter Scheib III in 1995 to work in the Clinton White House. Scheib resigned as executive chef in early 2005 and Comerford was appointed Executive Chef by First Lady Laura Bush on August 14, 2005. She 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.