White House Executive Chef - wikipedia White House Executive Chef `` White House chef '' redirects here. For the pastry chef, see White House Executive Pastry Chef. Cristeta Comerford, the White House Executive Chef since 2005 The White House Executive Chef is the individual responsible for managing the kitchens, and for planning and preparing of all menus and meals for the President of the United States and the First Family, which includes their private meals, their private entertaining, and official state functions at the White House in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Contents 1 History 1.1 Early White House cooks and chefs 1.2 Executive Chef 1.3 List of Executive Chefs 2 Duties and staff 2.1 The kitchen 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 External links History Early White House Cooks and chefs Beginning with George Washington, slaves prepared food for American presidents, First Families, and for social gatherings. Although slavery ended in the United States after the American Civil War, African Americans continued to provide nearly all the cooking in the White House kitchen. Occasionally, a professional chef was used beginning in the latter half of the 1800s. President Ulysses S. Grant utilized a Union Army cook until his embarrassed wife forced him to hire an Italian - trained chef. President Rutherford B. Hayes utilized the services of cook and nurse Winnie Monroe, a freed African American slave. Chester Arthur used a cook who formerly worked at his private residence as his White House chef for casual dining, and hired French - trained professional chef Alexander Fortin to oversee preparation of important political meals and state dinners. President Grover Cleveland also used a French chef to prepare his meals during his first term. President Benjamin Harrison had a French chef as well, but fired him after only a short time in favor of the services of Dolly Johnson, a freed African American slave who had cooked for the Harrisons in Indianapolis. President William McKinley hired a local cook for everyday dining, but a French - trained chef traveled from New York City to prepare formal dinners. Swedish native Sigrid Nilsson served as President Woodrow Wilson 's chief cook at the White House from 1915 to 1919. American - trained professional chef Alice Howard served presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson, while `` head cook '' Katherine Bruckner worked for Herbert Hoover and Henrietta Nesbitt served as housekeeper and head cook for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Vietta Garr, President Harry S. Truman 's long - time personal cook and domestic assistant, came to the White House as head cook in 1945 after Truman fired Nesbitt for insubordination. Dwight D. Eisenhower utilized the services of French - trained chef François Rysavy from 1954 to 1957 and former United States Navy chef Pedro Udo ( a Filipino ) from 1957 to 1960. Zephyr Wright, one of the last personal chefs to work in the White House, prepared meals for President Lyndon B. Johnson. Executive Chef Dolly Johnson, personal cook to President Benjamin Harrison, in the small White House kitchen in 1890 In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy reorganized the White House staff under her supervision, and created the title of Executive Chef for the first time. Kennedy hired French - born and - trained chef René Verdon, who served until 1965. Verdon established a new standard for White House dining, one in which only the highest quality ingredients and cooking techniques were acceptable. The first meal he crafted for the White House, a lunch for British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, was featured on the front page of The New York Times. Verdon resigned at the end of 1965 in a dispute with President Lyndon B. Johnson over the cuisine being offered at the White House. The Johnsons brought long - time family cook Zephyr White to the Executive Residence, where she became the First Family 's personal chef. For formal dining, the Johnsons hired 43 - year - old Swiss - born, American - trained chef Henry Haller to be Executive Chef. Haller proved so popular that he remained in the position until October 1, 1987. Jon Hill, a 33 - year - old American - born and - trained chef, served as Executive Chef from October 1, 1987, to January 8, 1988. Hill resigned after First Lady Nancy Reagan expressed significant disapproval of his cooking and presentation. He was replaced by White House assistant chef Hans Raffert. Raffert, a German - born chef who trained throughout Europe, joined the Nixon White House kitchen staff in 1969, and was the first White House chef to create a gingerbread house as part of the Executive Residence Christmas decorations. Raffert was 60 when he became Executive Chef, and retired in October 1992 just before he turned 65. French - born and trained chef Pierre Chambrin succeeded Raffert as Executive Chef, but he was asked to resign in March 1994 after refusing to cook the low - fat American cuisine favored by President Bill and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Walter Scheib was appointed Executive Chef in April 1994. While his tenure under the Clintons was a happy one, he had a more difficult time meeting the needs of President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and Mrs. Bush 's Social Secretary, Lea Berman. Laura Bush wanted a more formal presentation, and President Bush disliked soup, salad, and poached fish -- staples of Scheib 's cuisine. Scheib was fired by the Bushes in February 2005, and succeeded in August 2005 by Cristeta Comerford, a White House sous - chef whom Scheib had hired in 1995. Comerford was the first woman to be selected for the post. President Barack Obama retained Comerford as Executive Chef, but brought chef Sam Kass from Chicago to act as the First Family 's personal chef. Kass, who assumed several policy positions in the White House as well, resigned in December 2014. In November 2009, Marcus Samuelsson became the first guest chef at a White House state dinner when Comerford temporarily stepped aside to allow him to cook for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Comerford was retained as Executive Chef by President Donald Trump. List of Executive Chefs René Verdon 1961 -- 1965 Henry Haller 1966 -- 1987 Jon Hill 1987 -- 1988 Hans Raffert 1988 -- 1992 Pierre Chambrin 1992 -- 1994 Walter Scheib 1994 -- 2005 Cristeta Comerford 2005 -- present Duties and staff The Executive Chef is the manager and executive chef of the three White House kitchens. The Executive Chef also supervises a staff of five, and a part - time staff of 20 to 25 assistant chefs and kitchen helpers. The Executive Chef is responsible for planning and preparing all menus and meals for the First Family and for all entertaining ( informal, formal, and state dinners ) served by the White House, either away or on - site. The Executive Chef is formally hired by the First Lady, and reports to the White House Chief Usher. The Executive Chef has no purview over any of the desserts or pastries served at the White House. The White House Executive Pastry Chef operates as a separate entity, but coordinates with the Executive Chef for all meals and events. The White House Executive Chef made between $80,000 and $100,000 annually in 2005. The chef receives no overtime, and the workload can vary considerably depending on whether the First Family is in residence or traveling, if there is a special event, or if a holiday occurs. The Kitchen The White House Executive Chef works in one of two kitchens at the White House : The main kitchen, which is located in the northeast corner of the Ground Floor of the White House, and the Family Kitchen on the Second Floor. The Executive Pastry Chef works in the Pastry Kitchen on the mezzanine of the sub-basement. The main kitchen was last renovated in 1971. As of 2011, the White House Executive Chef used a natural gas oven and range manufactured by Vulcan Restaurant Equipment ; a Traulsen refrigerator and freezer ; a Cimbali M32 espresso machine ; a Hobart 300 gravity - fed food slicer ; Mauviel stainless steel pots and pans ; and Misono knives. See also Hercules, George Washington 's slave and chief chef References Notes Jump up ^ Another Filipino Navy cook, Lee Luckey, was staff cook for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower from October 1951 to July 1953. Luckey cooked at Truman 's Little White House in Key West, Florida, and at Eisenhower 's summer retreat in Orange Springs, Georgia. Jump up ^ In 1987, Executive Chef Jon Hill had a staff of three : Two sous - chefs and the White House Pastry Chef. Two additional sous - chefs were brought in to assist during state dinners. When Walter Scheib assumed the position of Executive Chef in 1994, he had a staff of three : two sous - chefs and a dishwasher. The staff had risen to five at the time of Comerford 's appointment. Citations Jump up ^ Miller 2011, pp. 73 - 75. Jump up ^ Miller 2011, p. 75. Jump up ^ Perret 1997, p. 401. Jump up ^ Hoogenboom 2001, p. 144. Jump up ^ `` The President 's Table ''. Army and Navy Journal. July 26, 1884. p. 1065. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Smith 2007, p. 623. Jump up ^ `` A Brief History of the White House Kitchen ''. Time. 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Miller, Adrian ( June 3, 2014 ). `` African American Cooks in the White House : Hiding in Plain Sight ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2016. Jump up ^ Morgan 2003, p. 232. Jump up ^ `` Chief Cook at White House Is Victim of Cupid ''. Berkeley Daily Gazette. December 29, 1919. p. 5. Retrieved September 13, 2016 ; `` Wilson 's Cook To Be Bride ''. The Washington Post. December 17, 1919. p. 10. Jump up ^ Henderson & Ganeshram 2011, pp. 75 - 76. Jump up ^ Allen 2000, p. 128. Jump up ^ Smith 2013, p. 713. Jump up ^ Shapiro, Laura ( November 22, 2010 ). `` The First Kitchen ''. The New Yorker. Retrieved July 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Burnes & Martin 2003, pp. 204 - 205. Jump up ^ Franklin 2014, p. 209, fn. 13. Jump up ^ McCardle, Dorothy ( February 24, 1961 ). `` Silence Goes on Gold Standard ''. The Washington Post. p. D4 ; McMillin, Fred ( April 2001 ). `` White House Gastronomy ''. Wayward Tendrils Quarterly : 31. Jump up ^ Whitcomb & Whitcomb 2002, p. 354. Jump up ^ Mullen, Holly ( August 22, 1987 ). `` What 's Cooking in the White House ? Ask Spokane Native ''. The Spokesman - Review. p. C4. Retrieved June 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Miller 2011, p. 76. ^ Jump up to : Vargas, Jose Antonio ( August 22, 2005 ). `` Hail to the Chef ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Brown, Emma ( February 3, 2011 ). `` Rene Verdon, White House chef for the Kennedys, dies at 86 ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2015 ; Grimes, William ( February 5, 2011 ). `` René Verdon, French Chef for the Kennedys, Dies at 86 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Henderson & Ganeshram 2011, p. 76. Jump up ^ Burros, Marian ( June 7, 1987 ). `` White House Chef to Leave in Fall ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` New White House Chef Resigns Amid Rumors of Sub-Par Cuisine ''. United Press International. January 9, 1988. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Latvala, Charlotte ( December 21, 1994 ). `` From the White House to You ''. Beaver County Times. p. Weekly 1. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Burros, Marian ( March 5, 1994 ). `` High Calories ( and Chef ! ) Out at White House ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Richman, Phyllis ; Radcliffe, Donnie ( March 26, 1994 ). `` White House Picks Chef ''. The Washington Post. p. D1. Jump up ^ Grimes, William ( June 22, 2015 ). `` Walter Scheib, Innovative Former White House Chef, Is Dead at 61 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015 ; Tapper, Jake ( June 9, 2006 ). `` Former White House Chef Dishes on Presidential Families ''. ABC News. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Gebhart, Ann ( February 4, 2005 ). `` White House Chef Is Out In East Wing Social Shuffle ''. The Washington Post. p. C1. ^ Jump up to : Sagon, Candy ( August 15, 2005 ). `` Toque of the Town : White House Names 1st Female Executive Chef ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Flores, Nina M. ( March 23, 2015 ). `` Cristeta Comerford : The White House 's First Woman Executive Chef ''. Ms. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Eilperin, Juliet ( June 3, 2015 ). `` Michelle Obama makes the pitch for pollinators ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Evich, Helena Bottemiller ( December 11, 2014 ). `` The world 's most powerful chef hangs up his apron ''. Politico. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Ingraham 2010, p. 78. Jump up ^ Severson, Kim ; Burrosfeb, Marian ( February 27, 2017 ). `` Looking for a Trump Doctrine in the White House Kitchen ''. The New York Times. ^ Jump up to : French 2010, p. 430. ^ Jump up to : `` Former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib found dead in New Mexico ''. Fox News. June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Miller, Bryan ( August 22, 1987 ). `` Home - Grown Chef Would Be a White House First ''. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Brinkley 2013, p. 31. Jump up ^ Tederick 2007, p. 10. Jump up ^ Preuschl, Sarah ( April 2003 ). `` Hail to the Chef ''. Indianapolis Monthly. p. 65 ; Cross, Robert ( February 4, 1988 ). `` What The Big Boys Eat : Recollections of a White House Chef ''. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Tederick 2007, p. 17. Jump up ^ Tederick 2007, p. 16. Jump up ^ Williamson, Elizabeth ( February 26, 2011 ). `` Cooking for the Commander in Chief ''. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Bibliography Allen, Alice Beiser ( 2000 ). An Independent Woman : The Life of Lou Henry Hoover. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313314667. Brinkley, Howard ( 2013 ). White House Butlers : A History of White House Chief Ushers and Butlers. Lexington, Ky. : BookCaps. ISBN 9781489550231. Burnes, Brian ; Martin, Donna ( 2003 ). Harry S. Truman : His Life and Times. Kansas City : Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 9780974000930. Franklin, Daniel P. ( 2014 ). Pitiful Giants : Presidents in Their Final Terms. New York : Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137410986. French, Mary ( 2010 ). United States Protocol : The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette. Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442203198. Henderson, Jeff ; Ganeshram, Ramin ( 2011 ). America I Am : Pass It Down Cookbook. New York : Smiley Books. ISBN 9781401931353. Hoogenboom, Olive ( 2001 ). `` Lucy Ware Webb Hayes ''. In Gould, Lewis L. American First Ladies : Their Lives and Their Legacy. New York : Routledge. ISBN 0415930219. Ingraham, Laura ( 2010 ). The Obama Diaries. New York : Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781439198445. Miller, Adrian ( 2011 ). `` Presidential Cooks : Cooking Truth to Power ''. In Henderson, Jeff ; Ganeshram, Ramin. America I Am : Pass It Down Cookbook. New York : Smiley Books. ISBN 9781401931353. Morgan, Howard Wayne ( 2003 ). William McKinley and His America. Kent, Ohio : Kent State University Press. ISBN 9780873387651. Perret, Geoffrey ( 1997 ). Ulysses S. Grant : Soldier and President. New York : Random House. ISBN 9780679447665. Smith, Andrew F. ( 2007 ). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Cambridge, Mass. : Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195307962. Smith, Andrew F. ( 2013 ). Food and Drink in American History : A `` Full Course '' Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC - CLIO. ISBN 9781610692335. Tederick, Lydia Barker ( Spring 2007 ). `` A Look at the White House Kitchens '' ( PDF ). White House History Journal : 10 -- 29. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 23, 2015. Whitcomb, John ; Whitcomb, Claire ( 2002 ). Real Life at the White House : Two Hundred Years of Daily Life at America 's Most Famous Residence. Florence, Ky. : Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415939515. Further reading Nesbitt, Henrieta ( 1948 ). White House Diary. New York : Doubleday. Rysavy, François ; Leighton, Frances Spatz ( 1957 ). White House Chef. New York : Putnam. Scheib, Walter ; Friedman, Andrew ( 2007 ). White House Chef : Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen. Hoboken, N.J. : J. Wiley. ISBN 9780471798422. External links White House Web site page on Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford Archived White House Web site page on Executive Chef Walter Scheib White House Executive Chefs René Verdon Henry Haller Jon Hill Hans Raffert Pierre Chambrin Walter Scheib Cristeta Comerford Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_House_Executive_Chef&oldid=833815384 '' Categories : White House Executive Chefs White House Executive Residence Operations White House Office Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 2 April 2018, at 15 : 30. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: who cooks for the president of the united states
Answer: White House Executive Chef; White House Executive Chef; Cristeta Comerford; The White House Executive Chef