White House chef accepts March of Dimes award

With the country still settling down from Tuesday's election, one White House staff member was honored Wednesday for her role in inspiring and educating young people.

White House Chef Cristeta Comerford accepted the March of Dimes Chicago Chef of the Year award at the organization's annual Signature Chefs fundraiser at the Swissotel.

“I'm humbled and honored to accept this award,” Comerford, 48, told the crowd of nearly 600 people.

The group recognizes chefs with Chicago connections for their culinary achievements (last year Rick Bayless got the nod) and cited Comerford for her “dedication to the environment, the farming industry, healthy eating and an eco-friendly life-style.”

Comerford had been working at the White House kitchen for 10 years before former first Lady Laura Bush named her executive chef in 2005. She is the first woman and the first minority to hold that title.

Comerford thanked the chefs who gave her first job in the kitchen and encouraged others to mentor our country's youth.

“There are young chefs out there who are looking up to you; you don't know if they're going to one day be the chef at the White House,” said Comerford, who was 23 when she immigrated from the Philippines to Chicago with her family.