Kitchen duties may have traditionally been viewed as women’s work, but not at the White House. Until now: Cristeta Comerford has been named (36) chef.
After an extensive six-month search, first lady Laura Bush (37) Sunday that Comerford was chosen from hundreds of (38) to head the executive kitchen. A naturalized U. S. (39) from the Philippines, she will be the first woman and first minority to hold the post.
The 42-year-old Comerford has been an (40) chef at the White House for 10 years. She worked under former executive chef Walter Scheib III, who (41) in February.
While being executive chef at the White House can bring fame, the job also can be exhausting. Comerford will be in (42) of whipping up everything from state dinners for world leaders to fast-food for the (43) in chief, his family and guests.
As many as 2,000 guests per month are fed at the White House. (44) . when festivities were taboo after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Mrs. Bush has been trying out finalists for the job, (45)
Comerford has a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from the University of the Philippines. She has worked at Le Ciel in Vienna, Austria and at restaurants in two Washington hotels.
(46) .The job pays around $ 80,000- $ 100,000 a year.