Strict rules all White House chefs must follow
If you have aspirations to join the White House kitchen team, then be prepared: there are some seriously strict rules in place.
Many former White House chefs have come out with tidbits and statements about what it’s really like to work in one of the most famous establishments in the world.
For example, Andre Rush, a former White House kitchen chef who worked under Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama, said he used to make the former’s meals ‘more healthy’ by swapping out fatty pork bacon for beef.
Meanwhile journalist Michael Wolff has alleged on an episode of the Daily Beast’s Inside Trump’s Head podcast that experts working in the house tend to serve up ‘banquet food’ akin to wedding meals.
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Below are some of the regulations that White House staff members need to follow, including being available 24/7 and abiding by presidential requests.
Strict number of kitchen employees
There are a limited number of full-time and part-time chefs working out of the White House kitchen at one time, according to a report by Food Republic.
These employees are responsible for managing the Oval Office’s main kitchen, the house’s two pantries, pastry kitchen, and executive kitchen, which is located inside the president's residence.
According to Mashed, there are usual six full time members of staff, including the White House Executive Chef and a pastry expert.
Part-time staffers include prep and relief chefs, as well as kitchen assistants. Some of these will work regular shifts at the White House, while others will be called upon when state dinners or important functions are on the cards.
Must be mum on selection process
If you don’t keep your White House interview under wraps, then you could be removed from the position, according to The New York Times.
Cristeta Comerford, who held the Executive Chef role between 2005 and 2024, previously told the publication that staying quiet was just ‘the rules of the house’.
Exec chef reports to first spouse
Rather than dealing with the US President, White House kitchen staff actually report to the first spouse.
This means the husband or wife of whoever is in office at that time has the ability to hire or fire the kitchen employees.
Right now, First Lady Melania Trump holds the power. It’s assumed that her predecessors, Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush also had this responsibly.
Around-the-clock availability
If one of the First Family fancy a midnight snack, then you better be prepared to rise from slumber and make it for them.
Despite White House chefs being available 24/7 to make food for the President and their family, it’s apparently an uncommon occurrence.
“I was there for eight years and that did not occur,” former chef Bill Yosses told HuffPost.
“There were no overnight snacks. In theory, we were working 24/7. There could be a national emergency and the people involved have to get up at 3 am and handle a crisis. The crises happened, but they weren’t hungry.”
No overtime perks
Despite theoretically being on call 24/7, there is apparently no overtime pay for working these kid of shifts.
According to Mental Floss, a White House head chef was taking home a pay check of $80,000 to $100,000 in 2017. It’s not known whether the wage has increased over the last decade.
Staff salaries are paid for by the government, while the First Family is responsible for footing the grocery bill.
Security measures must be abided by
Once you’ve got the job, you get Top Secret Presidential Proximity, and must become used to rubbing shoulders with the first family, according to Walter Scheib, a former chef.
“This is one of the most security-cleared posts you can get. In terms of the few of us that are in the kitchen who have that clearance, if you think about it, we’re not just around outside and next to the President; we’re physically inside of him,” he explained to Vice,
“You really couldn’t get any more close to that. In a way, you may be one of the singularly most trusted people in the whole country.”
Abide by presidential requests
As well as requesting specific dishes, chefs working under the President must be willing to go without certain products in their kitchen.
This is because the head of state has the authority to ban items that they don’t like—just as you would from your own kitchen.
Be willing to take on challenges
Each year, the White House Executive Pastry Chef is tasked with taking on the annual gingerbread house, as seen in episodes of Netflix’s The Residence.
But that’s not the only challenge the kitchen staff need to take on.
Former assistant chef Sam Kass once spoke about how he and other members of the kitchen during the Obama administration had to learn how to brew beer.
A YouTube video - shared via the now-defunct Obama White House channel - saw Charlie Brandts, the first official White House beekeeper, transferring his home brewing knowledge and offering the team advice, as per Food Republic.
Be able to boil and dye eggs
On Easter Monday, children are invited into the grounds of the First Families home to participate in the White House Egg Roll.
The tradition dates back to 1987 and sees guests from all 56 states and territories taking part in family-friendly activities.
To prepare for the big day, kitchen workers must boil and dye eggs countless eggs.
According to a 1998 Los Angeles Times article, the employees once successfully died 7,200 eggs for the event.
Ella Scott