Culinary Diplomacy Project with Former White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford

In a special program marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, Monticello welcomes former White House Executive Chef Cristeta “Cris” Comerford for a dynamic conversation and culinary reimagining inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s table.
Drawing on her historic tenure cooking for five U.S. presidents, Chef Comerford will imagine what she might create for a Jefferson-era state dinner - blending global influences, seasonal ingredients, and the spirit of diplomacy that defined both her work and Jefferson’s. She will revisit and reinterpret Jefferson’s recipes, offering fresh perspectives on the tastes, techniques, and agricultural traditions of the early republic.
Central to the program is Monticello’s own garden, a living laboratory of Jefferson’s horticultural vision. Featuring produce grown on-site, the event highlights the enduring relevance of local, seasonal foodways and the ways in which gardens - and kitchens - can reflect broader cultural exchange.