White House Executive Chef
Encyclopedia
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.
The Executive Chef holds no purview over any of the desserts or pastries served at the White House. The executive pastry chef
operates as a separate entity, but coordinates with the Executive Chef for all meals and events.
The current White House Executive Chef is Cristeta Comerford
, the first woman to be selected for the post.
First Family of the United States
The First Family of the United States is the unofficial title for the family of the President of the United States, who is both head of state and head of government of the United States. Members of the First Family consist of the President, the First Lady of the United States, and any of their...
and their private entertaining, and official state functions at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
The Executive Chef heads the three White House kitchens, a staff of four sous-chefs, and reports directly to the chief usher
White House Chief Usher
White House Chief Usher is the title of the head of household staff and operations at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States....
. The Executive Chef works with the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
, Chief Usher, White House Social Secretary
White House Social Secretary
The White House Social Secretary is responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of official social events at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States.-Function:...
and the Executive Pastry Chef
White House Executive Pastry Chef
The White House Executive Pastry Chef is responsible for the planning, managing and preparing of all desserts and pastries served at the White House, the official residence of the President of the United States...
to plan menus for State Dinners
State dinner
A state dinner is a dinner or banquet paid by a government and hosted by a head of state in his or her official residence in order to renew and celebrate diplomatic ties between the host country and the country of a foreign head of state or head of government who was issued an invitation. In many...
, 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.
The Executive Chef holds no purview over any of the desserts or pastries served at the White House. The executive pastry chef
White House Executive Pastry Chef
The White House Executive Pastry Chef is responsible for the planning, managing and preparing of all desserts and pastries served at the White House, the official residence of the President of the United States...
operates as a separate entity, but coordinates with the Executive Chef for all meals and events.
The current White House Executive Chef is Cristeta Comerford
Cristeta Comerford
Cristeta Pasia Comerford is a Filipino American 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.-Early life:...
, the first woman to be selected for the post.
Executive Chefs
- René VerdonRené VerdonRené Verdon was a French-born American chef. Verdon was the chef for the White House during the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Verdon was hired by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961.-Early life:...
1961–1965 - Henry Haller 1966–1987
- Jon Hill 1987–1988
- Hans Raffert 1988–1990
- Pierre ChambrinPierre ChambrinPierre Chambrin was the White House Executive Chef from 1992 to 1994.-Early life and career:Chambrin was born in Paris on Sept. 13, 1947. He received his culinary education at the Ecole des Metiers de l"alimentation, which he attended from 1961 to 1963. He moved to the United States in 1969 and...
1990–1994 - Walter ScheibWalter ScheibWalter S. Scheib III was the White House executive chef from 1994 until 2005. Scheib is known for his creation of a distinctly American cuisine for the White House. He was responsible in this role for preparing everything from simple First Family dinners to very formal State Dinners...
1994–2005 - Cristeta ComerfordCristeta ComerfordCristeta Pasia Comerford is a Filipino American 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.-Early life:...
2005–present