White House Chef Retires after Nearly 30 Years

FILE - White House executive chef Cris Comerford, holds dishes as she speaks during a media preview for the State Dinner with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 30, 2022. Comerford has retired after nearly three decades of making meals and cooking up state dinners for five different presidents and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE - White House executive chef Cris Comerford, holds dishes as she speaks during a media preview for the State Dinner with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 30, 2022. Comerford has retired after nearly three decades of making meals and cooking up state dinners for five different presidents and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
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White House Chef Retires after Nearly 30 Years

FILE - White House executive chef Cris Comerford, holds dishes as she speaks during a media preview for the State Dinner with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 30, 2022. Comerford has retired after nearly three decades of making meals and cooking up state dinners for five different presidents and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE - White House executive chef Cris Comerford, holds dishes as she speaks during a media preview for the State Dinner with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 30, 2022. Comerford has retired after nearly three decades of making meals and cooking up state dinners for five different presidents and their families. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

The White House's executive chef has retired after nearly three decades of making meals and cooking up state dinners for five different presidents and their families.

Cris Comerford is the first woman to hold the job, and is also the first person of color to be executive 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. Through her barrier-breaking career, Chef Cris has led her team with warmth and creativity, and nourished 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, sharpened her culinary skills while working at hotels in Chicago and restaurants in Washington before the White House brought her on in 1995 as an assistant chef, The AP reported.

A naturalized US citizen and a native of the Philippines, she was named executive chef in 2005. Her responsibilities as executive chef included designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holiday functions, receptions and official luncheons.

She and pastry chef Susie Morrison — also the first woman in that job — formed a duo that has tantalized the taste buds of guests at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with their culinary creations for nearly a decade.

A lavish state dinner is a tool of US diplomacy, a high honor reserved for America’s longstanding and closest allies and the food is the signature event. Comerford's last state dinner was for Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife, Rachel, in May.

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

Chef and humanitarian José Andrés seemed to break the news Monday evening with a post congratulating her. “You are a national treasure, a culinary diplomat who has shown the world how an immigrant can celebrate American food & share it with the world’s leaders,” he posted. “Congrats on retiring, we love you Cris.”



Riyadh Season 2025 Breaks Record with 20 Million Visitors

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
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Riyadh Season 2025 Breaks Record with 20 Million Visitors

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)
Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination. (Riyadh Season)

Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman of the board of directors Advisor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Sheikh announced that the fifth annual Riyadh Season has received a record-breaking 20 million visitors, marking an unprecedented milestone since the event’s inception in 2019, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

Riyadh Season has solidified its reputation as a global entertainment hub, drawing visitors from across the Kingdom and beyond. Popular destinations such as Boulevard World, Boulevard City, and Boulevard Runway have seen particularly high foot traffic, offering a diverse range of artistic performances, international games, fine-dining experiences, and immersive cultural exhibits.

The mild winter weather and public holidays have further fueled attendance, with adventure seekers flocking to the Dunes of Arabia for camping and outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" exhibition at the Saudi National Museum has captivated fashion and art enthusiasts. The Groves has also emerged as a prime attraction, featuring international cuisine, live music, and a unique ambiance.

Additionally, major sporting events—including boxing matches, martial arts competitions, and padel tournaments—have drawn significant crowds, alongside concerts featuring renowned artists from around the world.

Surpassing 20 million visitors, Riyadh Season continues to cement its status as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment events, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a premier global entertainment destination.