(“Motel Kids� To Surprise Anaheim White House Owner With Massive “Jackie O�)

A popular restaurateur known for his flamboyant style, award-winning dining establishment and extensive philanthropy will become the 8th recipient of the Anaheim Walk of Stars. Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House, will accept the honor at a ceremony to be attended by Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, local dignitaries and several dozen “motel kids,� some of the underprivileged youth he feeds each night through a nonprofit he founded in their honor. The event will take place on Tuesday, August 19 at
2 p.m. at a sidewalk location on Harbor Blvd between (?) and (?) streets. The highlight of the event will be a surprise visit by the “motel kids� and the unveiling of the world’s biggest “Jackie O,� a dessert for which the restaurant has earned international acclaim.
“I’m honored to receive the Anaheim Walk of Stars distinction,� said Serato, who arrived in America from his homeland in Italy with $200 in his pocket about 25 years ago. “This is a great honor and I am humbled to be in the company of the others like Walt Disney, Carl Karcher and Gene Autry who have preceded me.�
Mention the words “white house� in any conversation on the East Coast and thoughts naturally turn to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Those same words, when spoken in Orange County, Calif., take on a very different “flavor.� Situated in a completely restored and historically significant mansion dating to 1909, the Anaheim White House recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as one of Southern California’s culinary “jewels in the crown.� It has been hailed by critics and the public alike for its artfully prepared northern Italian/French cuisine, staggering array of some of the world’s finest and most popular wines, unparalleled service and, more importantly, a dining experience that is timeless, remarkable and unparalleled.
According to Serato, countless celebrities, dignitaries, world leaders and regional culinary aficionados alike have proved loyal patrons during his two decade reign. Madonna, Sidney Portier, Gwen Stefani (she’s a regular and even held her engagement party there), Martina Navratilova, Presidents George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter and the Crown Prince of Belgium are among the well known figures who have dined at the restaurant.
Serato maintains the same philosophy that he developed in the early days of the Anaheim White House -- treat each of his patrons as a distinguished guest in his home. That simple approach, along with his refusal to compromise when it comes to cuisine or service, has resulted in the restaurant receiving scores of prestigious accolades and highly coveted distinctions. They range from a “three-star� rating in the Mobil Guide and consistent top rankings in the Zagat Dining Guide to the “International Five Star Diamond Award� from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, the North American DiRoNA award and the Golden Sceptre award from the California Restaurant Writers Association. And while the East Coast may have their White House, culinary enthusiasts know that the real white house is situated in Anaheim, and the man behind the big desk who has adopted President Harry Truman’s philosophy of “the buck stops here� is an Italian immigrant who will treat you like a king.
Not content with his role as restaurateur, Serato has earned considerable worldwide attention for his philanthropy. The nonprofit he founded in honor of his mother, Caterina’s Club, serves 50,000 “motel� children each year. Each day at 6 p.m., 100 dinners are delivered with help from the Boys & Girls Club so that needy youngsters have a nutritious, balanced meal before they go to bed. To ensure that nothing prevents the deliveries from being made, Caterina’s Club purchased a fully equipped van and donated it to the Boys & Girls Club to facilitate the deliveries and any other critical transportation needs. He also wrote a cookbook, “Temptation at the White House� and is releasing his first calendar based on that theme with proceeds benefiting Caterina’s Club. The Anaheim White House is located at 887 South Anaheim Blvd., in Anaheim. Call (714) 772-1381 or visit www.anaheimwhitehouse.com.