White House chef retires after nearly 30 years, 1st woman and 1st person of color to have the job

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House Chef has retired after nearly three decades of preparing meals and hosting state dinners for five different presidents and their families.

Cris Comerford is the first woman to hold the position and is also the first person of color to be a chef. Her last day was Friday. First lady Jill Biden thanked her for her service in a statement on Tuesday.

“I always say, food is love. Throughout her groundbreaking career, Chef Cris has led her team with warmth and creativity, nourishing our souls along the way,” Jill Biden said in a statement. “With all our hearts, Joe and I are filled with gratitude for her dedication and years of service.”

Comerford, 61, honed her cooking skills while working in Chicago hotels and Washington restaurants before the White House hired her as an assistant chef in 1995.

She is a naturalized American citizen and native of the Philippines. In 2005, she was appointed Executive Chef. Her responsibilities as Executive Chef include designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holidays, receptions, and formal luncheons.

She and chef Susie Morrison, the first woman to hold the position, formed a duo that has been spoiling the taste buds of guests at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with their culinary creations for almost a decade.

A lavish state banquet is an instrument of American diplomacy, a great honor reserved only for America’s staunch allies. The food is the most important event. Comerford’s last state banquet was in May for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife Rachel.

The team served a three-course meal of chilled heirloom tomato soup and a main course of the best of both worlds: smoked beef short ribs and butter-poached lobster. Dessert was a homemade white chocolate basket with raspberries, peaches and other fruit.

Chef and humanitarian José Andrés seemed to break the news Monday night with a message congratulating her. “You are a national treasure, a culinary diplomat who showed the world how an immigrant can celebrate American food & share it with world leaders,” he posted. “Congratulations on your retirement, we love you Cris.”