When Cristeta Comerford was 21, she came to the United States from the Philippines and took the first job she could get, in the kitchen of an airport hotel. Ten years ago, at age 42, she became the White House executive chef—the first woman in that role. Comerford took some time to speak with Real… Read More
The state china of the Obama Administration has been unveiled! The eleven-piece place setting incorporates historic inspiration with a modern presentation, as, unlike most china, it’s not a matching set. The blue hue used on several of the pieces was named “Kailua Blue”, an acknowledgement to the President’s home state of Hawaii. The set begins… Read More
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy received a gift of shamrocks from Irish ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan in the Oval Office. Each year the president gets a crystal bowl of shamrock sprouts from Ireland as a symbol of the bond between our two countries. Since 1953 the gift has been delivered by the Irish… Read More
I continue to receive emails regarding the Old Family Dining Room at the White House and its new look, so here is some more information on this historic room and its recent renovation. In 1825, John Quincy Adams wanted the First Family to have a place to take their meals. Located just off the State Dining Room, the… Read More
This morning on the Today Show Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of President and Mrs. Bush, who once lived at the White House, interviewed Mrs. Obama to see what she has added to the public tour and how she has “modernized” the White House. The Old Family Dining Room received a makeover with some new 20th century American pieces, making Mrs. Obama the first First Lady to modernize a room at the White House. She told Jenna that it was surprising to her that she was the first to do this: “It’s kind of unbelievable that we haven’t done this before. Because modern art and design is such an important part of the American tradition.”… Read More
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