He's busy today; another one from SP
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George likes to know what he's eating....with my tongue firmly in my cheek...
White House Cook-Off Ends: Woman Becomes First Chef
By MARIAN BURROS
Published: August 14, 2005
After a lengthy selection process, First Lady Laura Bush announced today that
Cristeta Comerford, an assistant chef at the White House, was promoted to be
executive chef, making her the first woman to be named to that position.
Ms. Comerford, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, learned on
Thursday of the decision that had been made after six months of deliberations.
Mrs. Bush said she was delighted that Ms. Comerford accepted the job. "Her
passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations," she
said.
Ms. Comerford had an advantage over outside applicants. "It's something Mrs.
Bush had a comfort level with," said Susan Whitson, Mrs. Bush's press
secretary. "She knew what she was capable of and it was an opportunity to promote
someone from within" Ms. Whitson added, making the choice another first.
Ms. Comerford, 41, who immediately left on vacation with her husband, was
unavailable for comment. But she had said in an earlier interview that she was
very pleased to be considered.
Ms. Comerford was hired by her predecessor at the White House, Walter Scheib
3rd, in 1995. Since Mr. Scheib was asked to resign in February, she has been
sharing the top job with the other assistant chef, John Meillor, preparing
official dinners and private parties. For family dinners, she prepared everything
from huevos rancheros, the president's favorite Sunday morning breakfast, to
oysters and spinach au gratin for one of Mrs. Bush's literary themed dinners,
including one honoring Shakespeare. Prime rib roast with elderberry mustard and
verjus, with onions simmered in raisins, was also on the menu.
Roland Mesnier, a former White House pastry chef, and a great supporter of
her candidacy, was delighted with the choice. "Fantastic," he said.
"You can recognize the flavor of what she cooks and you can recognize all the
elements on the plate. Many times a chef puts things in a recipe and you say
'what am I eating?' "
Plans for Bush to eat ready-meals used in Iraq were shelved. He had constant
problems opening them with his mouth, and got the plastic caught in his teeth
on several occasions.
With her selection, Mrs. Bush has managed to please both her husband and the
more sophisticated needs of White House state occasions. "The president
likes to recognize what he's eating," Mr. Mesnier said. "He doesn't like to eat
things that look strange on the plate." The staff may wish to just place a
whole dead steer on his plate next time, hoofs and all.
Mr. Scheib said he "couldn't be happier with the selection because she's the
best candidate. No question about it."
Ms. Comerford worked closely with Mr. Scheib on many projects, including the
state dinner in honor of the president of the Philippines.
"She and I were like two fingers crossed," he said, "mentor and protégé. I
don't see her choice as a radical departure from anything." That last comment
suggested that Mrs. Bush asked Mr. Scheib to leave, not because she did not like
his food, as some have speculated, but because she wanted her own person in
the job and not a holdover from the Clinton administration.
"It would have made sense to put her in place right away," Mr. Scheib said.
"What took them so long?"
Ms. Comerford, who came to the United States when she was 23, received a
bachelor's degree in food technology from the University of the Philippines,
studied classic French cooking, worked in Austria and at hotels in Washington. She
also collaborated with the California chef John Ash to promote American game
cooking.
She lives in Columbia, Md., with her husband, John |
