Hail to the Chefs: Inside America’s Most Famous Kitchen

Event

November 18, 2026
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Purchase tickets

Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint


The Bush Center welcomes two culinary figures who helped shape the modern history of White House dining: Cristeta Comerford, former White House Executive Chef, and Bill Yosses, former White House Executive Pastry Chef. During Hail to the Chefs: Inside America’s Most Famous Kitchen, Comerford and Yosses will offer an insider’s look at how meals come to life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — from the precision and diplomacy of State Dinners to the warmth of family meals in the residence.

Comerford, appointed Executive Chef by First Lady Laura Bush in 2005 and the first woman to hold the role, led the White House kitchen for nearly two decades until her retirement in 2024. Yosses, hired by Mrs. Bush in 2007, served as Executive Pastry Chef through 2014, earning national recognition for his inventive – and healthy – desserts.

Together, they’ll pull back the curtain on the traditions, logistics, and creativity behind presidential hospitality — including an extended dive into holiday cooking and baking, one of the most beloved and demanding seasons in the White House culinary calendar. The conversation promises to be richly informative, full of stories, and irresistibly fun.

Members must log in to receive a discounted rate on their ticket purchases. Members receive advance notice on ticket purchases and free admission to the Bush Museum. Not a member yet? Discover all that membership has to offer to receive advance notice on upcoming Bush Center events and make sure you’re part of every moment that matters.


Schedule of Events

5:30 p.m. Check-in opens
6:30 p.m. Program promptly begins*
7:30 p.m. Program concludes

* Note: In consideration of our speakers and guests in attendance, the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly to avoid any delays for your arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have not already activated your account, please see below steps on how to set up your account.

  • Step Two: enter email address associated with your membership
  • Step Three: check your inbox for an email with a link to finish activating your account (be sure to check your Spam folder as it will come from a Shopify email address and sometimes gets caught in Spam)
  • Step Four: click on the link in your email and finish setting up your account using your email address and password of choice.
  • Step Five: after setting up your account, you will be able to book Museum tickets and purchase event tickets. All member discounts will be applied at checkout. If you get to the checkout page and do not see any discounts, please contact [email protected].