"CristetaComerford" news and stories

Michelle Obama will make a cameo appearance on an episode of "Iron Chef America" filmed at the White House, the Food Network announced Wednesday.

The first lady introduces the secret ingredient for the challenge, which pits White House Chef Cristeta Comerford and Iron Chef Bobby Flay against Iron Chef Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.

The White House approached the Food Network about filming "Iron Chef America" at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as a way to reach those people who haven't heard yet about the first lady's efforts to curb childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise, the New York Times reports.

A familiar face from Chicago is joining the White House kitchen.

Chef Sam Kass, 28, who cooked for the Obamas and other families on the South Side of Chicago, has been named assistant White House chef -- one of three assistants under executive chef Cristeta Comerford.

The University of Chicago grad's pedigree with the sustainable food movement seems to be answering the call from chefs like Alice Waters, who wrote then President-elect Obama in November urging him "to set the tone for how the nation should feed itself."

Since Barack Obama won the November Presidential election, there has been much speculation as to whether he and his family would retain current White House chef Cristeta Comerford or replace her with a new chef of their choosing. Reporters and bloggers suggested nearly every single prominent chef cooking in the U.S. today, including Oprah Winfrey's personal chef Art Smith and high-end Mexican expert Rick Bayless.

However, it was announced yesterday and the Obamas would retain Chef Comerford as White House Executive Chef. She is the first woman and first minority to hold that position. Congratulations Chef Comerford!

[via AP]

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