This photograph of White House assistant chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford stirring sauce was taken by Tina Hager on July 17, 2002 in the White House Kitchen. Comerford prepared this sauce, alongside the six other sauces on burners in the background, for a State Dinner honoring President Aleksander Kwaśniewski of the Republic of Poland and Jolanta Kwaśniewska, the first lady of Poland. Comerford, who was named White House Executive Chef in 2005, is likely preparing the ‘BBQ Shallot Sauce’ which was served alongside smoked beef and corn polenta at the dinner.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta "Chris" Comerford was taken by Chuck Kennedy on December 3, 2014. In the photograph, Chef Comerford makes final preparations in the East Room of the White House before a Christmas holiday volunteer reception held during the Barack Obama administration.

In this photograph, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier plates petits fours for a dinner at Camp David. In the back, White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib and chef Cristeta Comerford stack dishes. On the counter are platters of elaborate desserts created by Chef Mesnier who was known for never making the same dessert twice. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph, taken May 27, 2008, former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller returns to the Ground Floor Kitchen to visit current White House Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford and her culinary team. Swiss-American chef Haller held the position from 1966-1987, serving five first families and their distinguished guests. Filipino-American chef Comerford began working as White House executive chef in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration. She was the first woman as well as the first person of color to serve in the role since it was created in 1961. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller.

This photograph of White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on February 10, 2014. A press preview was held that day to showcase the decor and menu ahead of a State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for President François Hollande of the French Republic. Yosses and Comerford discussed the food preparations underway for the State Visit with members of the press. The menu featured the best of American cuisine, with a list of ingredients cultivated from farmers and artisans from across the country, including a winter garden salad with a mix of radishes and baby carrots over a bed of merlot lettuce made with produce from First Lady Michelle Obama's White House Kitchen Garden. The State Dinner was also held on the South Lawn of the White House on February 11, 2014.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on February 10, 2014. A press preview was held that day to showcase the decor and menu ahead of a State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for President François Hollande of the French Republic. Comerford discussed the food preparations underway for the State Visit with members of the press. The menu featured the best of American cuisine, with a list of ingredients cultivated from farmers and artisans from across the country, including a winter garden salad with a mix of radishes and baby carrots over a bed of merlot lettuce made with produce from First Lady Michelle Obama's White House Kitchen Garden. The State Dinner was also held on the South Lawn of the White House on February 11, 2014.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on February 10, 2014. A press preview was held that day to showcase the decor and menu ahead of a State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for President François Hollande of the French Republic. Comerford discussed the food preparations underway for the State Visit with members of the press. The menu featured the best of American cuisine, with a list of ingredients cultivated from farmers and artisans from across the country, including a winter garden salad with a mix of radishes and baby carrots over a bed of merlot lettuce made with produce from First Lady Michelle Obama's White House Kitchen Garden. The State Dinner was also held on the South Lawn of the White House on February 11, 2014.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on February 10, 2014. A press preview was held that day to showcase the decor and menu ahead of a State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for President François Hollande of the French Republic. Comerford discussed the food preparations underway for the State Visit with members of the press. The menu featured the best of American cuisine, with a list of ingredients cultivated from farmers and artisans from across the country, including a winter garden salad with a mix of radishes and baby carrots over a bed of merlot lettuce made with produce from First Lady Michelle Obama's White House Kitchen Garden. The State Dinner was also held on the South Lawn of the White House on February 11, 2014.

This photograph by Matthew D'Agostino was taken at the sixth annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on April 2, 2014. Seen here are representatives from FoodCorps, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching young children about healthy food while providing access to that food during the school day, and members of the White House kitchen staff including White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and Assistant Pastry Chef Susan "Susie" E. Morrison. Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led to her launch her "Let's Move" initiative. The 2014 planting welcomed local students from Cleveland Elementary School, Friendship Public Charter School, Kimball Elementary School, Bancroft Elementary School, and Harriet Tubman Elementary School. Mrs. Obama also hosted the founders and staff at FoodCorps.

This photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama speaking was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on April 15, 2015. Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative the following year. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama speaking was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on April 15, 2015. Members of the White House Kitchen staff stand behind her. Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative the following year. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama speaking was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on April 15, 2015. Members of the White House Kitchen staff stand behind her. Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative the following year. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of members of the White House staff was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on April 15, 2015. Among the group are White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford (left) and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan "Susie" E. Morrison (second from right). Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama speaking was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on April 15, 2015. Members of the White House Kitchen staff stand behind her. Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative the following year. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of members of the White House staff was taken by Matthew D'Agostino at the seventh annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on April 15, 2015. Among the group are White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford (left) and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan "Susie" E. Morrison (center). Mrs. Obama first planted the Kitchen Garden in 2009 as part of her initiative to promote healthy eating. That 2009 planting eventually led her to launch her "Let's Move!" initiative. In honor of the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" that day, Mrs. Obama and a group of local schoolchildren participated in a special #GimmeFive challenge. The challenge encouraged Americans to #GimmeFive things they do to live healthier lives. At the planting, Mrs. Obama and the students planted five new vegetables in the Kitchen Garden: spinach, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce plants, and radish seeds. Mrs. Obama then challenged everyone across the country to plant those five vegetables in their own gardens. Each of the local students participating received five of their own plants and seeds to take home to start their garden.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on July 29, 2016. A press preview was held that day to showcase the decor and menu ahead of a State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore. In this photograph, Comerford describes her menu for the State Dinner, which brought together local American ingredients and Asian-influenced flavors. The four course meal began with an appetizer of Maryland Blue Crab, transitioned to a salad course that featured tomatoes, pickled green mangoes, papaya, and soursop sorbet, moved on to a main course of American Wagyu beef paired with California Asian yams and heirloom carrots, and finished with a dessert course featuring peach sangria cake accented with palm sugar, coconut milk, and kaffir lime leaves. The State Dinner was held in the East Room on August 2, 2016.