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Cristeta Comerford

Obama State Dinner Menu
Cristeta Comerford

Quintessential American Food? Surf and Turf, Apple Pie

Last night the Obamas hosted their first state dinner of 2011.
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Last night the Obamas hosted their first state dinner of 2011. Yesterday, the menu was described as being "quintessentially American," but no specifics were released. While we tried to guess what would be served, in the end White House chefs Cristeta Comerford and Bill Yosses went with a surf and turf menu.

The first course was a pear, fennel, walnut, and goat cheese salad. The second plating consisted of poached Maine lobster served with glazed carrots and mushrooms. After a palate-cleansing lemon sorbet, the president, Chinese delegation, and their guests enjoyed rib eye with crisp onions, double stuffed potatoes, and creamed spinach. For dessert? Good old-fashioned apple pie and vanilla ice cream. The meal sounds perfect to me: it's luxurious, but classic. What do you think of the menu?

Quintessentially American Foods
Cristeta Comerford

What Foods Are Quintessentially American?

Tonight at the White House, chefs Cristeta Comerford and Bill Yosses are cooking up a special state dinner.
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Tonight at the White House, chefs Cristeta Comerford and Bill Yosses are cooking up a special state dinner. Although the official menu has yet to be released, it is said that the Chinese delegation and the Obamas will dine on food that is "quintessentially American." But what exactly does that mean?

When I lived in Spain and people asked me to make "American food," I always served fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, so I guess that's what I consider to be the United States' signature dish. However, it's hard to pick just one dish, as pizza, burgers, and Caesar salads also come to mind. Which foods do you think are all-American? Please share with us below!

Source: Flickr User stu_spivack

What Did You Think of the Food Network's Big Night?
TV

What Did You Think of the Food Network's Big Night?

Last night was a big one for Food Network.
by partysugar

Last night was a big one for Food Network. The most anticipated episode of Iron Chef America, with a secret ingredient of "national importance" and Michelle Obama, aired at 8, and the premiere of its much hyped Worst Cooks in America — featuring Anne Burrell — debuted at 10.

Did you catch either of the shows? I did! I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Chef America. After reading so much about Chef Comerford, it was nice to see her personality come to life on camera. And who couldn't love the combination of Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse?

Worst Cooks in America, on the other hand, is kind of like the Jersey Shore of reality cooking competitions. While it may be entertaining, it's neither educational nor exciting, and on a Sunday night at 10, I'd rather catch up on my beauty sleep than watch this excruciating series. Still, it's so bad, it just might be a hit. What did you think?

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Iron Chef Shoots Special Episode at the White House
News

Iron Chef America Goes to the White House

Last month Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Mario Batali headed to the White House.
by partysugar

Last month Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Mario Batali headed to the White House. The chefs filmed a two-hour special of Iron Chef America that will open the upcoming season of Iron Chef on Jan. 3.

First Lady Michelle Obama got in on the fun, challenging the chefs to create a meal for America using only ingredients grown in the White House garden.

According to his Twitter, Flay joins forces with the White House chef Cristeta Comerford to battle Lagasse and Batali. The judges are a trio of females, chef Nigella Lawson, actress Jane Seymour, and swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Longtime host Alton Brown provides his usual enthusiastic commentary.

Over the past year the White House garden has spent plenty of time in the spotlight and I'm excited to get a better look at it on Iron Chef. How about you? Will you tune in?

White House No-Cream Creamed Spinach Recipe
Thanksgiving

Creamless Creamed Spinach Is a Healthy Thanksgiving Side

Michelle Obama has only been a resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for 10 months, yet she's already managed to set an example for Americans to eat more fresh food, from planting a garden to starting a White House farmers market.
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Michelle Obama has only been a resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for 10 months, yet she's already managed to set an example for Americans to eat more fresh food, from planting a garden to starting a White House farmers market.

Earlier this year, I spotted a recipe for one of the first lady's favorite White House dishes, a creamed spinach without the cream. I bookmarked it, thinking it would make a satisfying yet light steak side, or a healthful addition to a large Thanksgiving feast.

The recipe calls for blanched, puréed spinach, which adds an airy, creamy taste without the calories. To see the technique, keep reading.

Michelle Obama and Cristeta Comerford Host White House Kitchen Tour
News

Michelle Obama Gives White House Kitchen Tour

Yesterday, before the National Governors Association Dinner — President Barack Obama's first official dinner at the White House — First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford opened up the White House kitchen to reporters from the New York Times and top students from L'Academie de Cuisine, a culinary school in nearby Gaithersburg, MD.
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Yesterday, before the National Governors Association Dinner — President Barack Obama's first official dinner at the White House — First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford opened up the White House kitchen to reporters from the New York Times and top students from L'Academie de Cuisine, a culinary school in nearby Gaithersburg, MD. Along with First Lady Obama, Comerford, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, and former Obama private chef Sam Kass gave the community an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes in the White House kitchen before a large event, and even sampled dishes, from citrus salad with watermelon radishes to Chesapeake crab agnolotti. Then the first lady opened up the floor for questions, asking the first: "Actually, how do you become executive chef of the White House?" she inquired. To watch the video and get a glimpse into the White House kitchen, read more

Obamas Bring Their Private Chef to the White House
News

Obamas Bring Their Private Chef to the White House

When it comes to the President's preferences, we know he likes johnnycakes and medium-well cheeseburgers.
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When it comes to the President's preferences, we know he likes johnnycakes and medium-well cheeseburgers. Now we can add one more thing to the list: private chef Sam Kass's food.

Representatives for the Obamas announced yesterday that the family would be bringing Sam Kass on board. The 28-year-old chef, who cooked for the Obamas in Chicago, will now serve as assistant chef to White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford.

"He knows what they like and he happens to have a particular interest in healthy food and local food," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokesperson for Michelle Obama. Before Kass founded his private chef service, Inevitable Table, the University of Chicago graduate trained at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe and also worked at top Chicago restaurant Avec.

According to former White House chef Walter Scheib, having Kass on board will make things easier for Comerford as well. "She will understand better and faster what they like," he said. "She doesn't have to spend months reading the tea leaves."

This news has no doubt thrilled the likes of eat local proponents such as Alice Waters, and I'm wondering if it's just a matter of time before an organic garden gets planted on the grounds. I have to admit, however, that I was surprised to find the Obamas had a private chef. I thought he was one to grab a bite at the drive-in like the rest of us. What do you think of the news?

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Obamas to Keep the Bushes' Chef
News

Obamas to Keep the Bushes' Chef

Although there was much speculation over who the Obamas would appoint head chef at the White House, the President-elect and first lady-to-be have chosen to keep the current executive chef in the kitchen.
by partysugar

Although there was much speculation over who the Obamas would appoint head chef at the White House, the President-elect and first lady-to-be have chosen to keep the current executive chef in the kitchen. Chef since 2005, Cristeta Comerford is the first woman to hold the coveted position. In a statement released last Friday, Michelle Obama praised the female chef:

Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family. Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families. I look forward to working with her in the years to come.

Despite pressure from prominent foodies such as Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, and Ruth Reichl, the Obamas have shied away from using the executive chef position to make a political statement about the state of food and agriculture in America. What do you think about the news? Are you surprised they're keeping the Bush's chef? Should they have chosen a more well-known one?

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International Women's Day
recipes

International Women's Day

Normally I write about fun, kooky food related holidays, but today it's actually a day I really care about and think is important to acknowledge.
by partysugar

Normally I write about fun, kooky food related holidays, but today it's actually a day I really care about and think is important to acknowledge. Today is International Women's Day, a day when females all over the world rally together and fight for equality, peace, respect, and justice. I'll be sending a text out to all of the fabulous women in my life to let them know they should celebrate and encourage you to do the same readers. Recently female chefs have been awarded well deserved recognition for their culinary achievements. In 2005, First Lady Laura Bush appointed the first minority/first female to the position of White House Executive chef. Chef Cris Comerford was raised in the Philippines and worked in the White House for 10 years before she was promoted to head honcho in the kitchen. To embrace the empowerment of womankind I suggest making her simple, scrumptious, vegetarian soup - one that was served at a Presidential lunch the day of the 2006 State of the Union address. For the recipe, read more