(22st Annual Tree Lighting/Dinner To Benefit “Motel Kids�)

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow�…at the Anaheim White House as the internationally acclaimed restaurant kicks off the holiday season with its 22nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The elaborate celebration will be held on Sunday, November 23 and feature seven tons of snow surrounding a spectacularly decorated 20-foot Christmas tree. Also on hand will be carolers and festively attired holiday characters spreading holiday cheer. The public is invited to enjoy the festivities, which will begin at 6 p.m. with Champagne and hors d’oeuvres followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. and an extravagant five-course, prix fixe dinner prepared especially for the occasion by Executive Chef Eddie Meza at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets are $135 per person and proceeds from the evening will benefit Caterina’s Club, a nonprofit that feeds 30,000 “motel kids� each year. (They are called “motel kids� as they are relegated to living in cheap motels for shelter and their working parents oftentimes do not have the means to adequately feed them.) Reservations may be made by calling (714) 772-1381.
“Christmas is one of our favorite times of year and we’re looking forward to this year’s tree lighting celebration with great excitement,� said Bruno Serato, proprietor of the Anaheim White House. “I’ve checked the weather forecasts and it looks like we’ll be blessed with a rare snowfall to make it beautiful ‘White Christmas’ this year at the Anaheim White House.�
Serato established Caterina’s Club three years ago with his mother Caterina Lunardi. They have since been credited with aiding thousands of some of Orange County’s most impoverished youth called “motel kids� as they often live in nearby dilapidated motels. The program now feeds 50,000 children each year. Everyday, 100 dinners are picked up at the restaurant’s kitchen door and delivered to the Boys & Girls Club where they are distributed to the kids who then enjoy nutritious, balanced meals before they go to bed. To ensure that nothing prevents the meals from reaching the kids, Bruno purchased a fully equipped van for the deliveries.
Situated in a historic national landmark mansion dating to 1909, the restaurant offers a quixotic menu of northern Italian/French fare, extensive wine list, unparalleled service and an elegant setting to create a dining experience that is timeless, remarkable and without equal. As a result, the restaurant has received such coveted distinctions as the “International Five Star Diamond Award� from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and top rankings in the Zagat Dining Guide. In addition, the restaurant is home to scores of philanthropic endeavors including Caterina’s Club, for which Serato was recognized on Capitol Hill for feeding more than 30,000 underprivileged Orange County youngsters each year.
With its close proximity to Disneyland, the elegant dining establishment has become a favorite destination for tourists, locals and dignitaries visiting the park. Among the luminaries from the worlds of entertainment, sports and politics are Madonna, Sidney Portier, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Wolfgang Puck, Derek Jeter, Oscar de la Hoya, President Jimmy Carter, President George W. Bush and the Crown Prince of Belgium. In addition, Serato is lauded for his extensive philanthropy and has been honored as a “Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year� on Capitol Hill for his Caterina’s Club that feeds more than 30,000 underprivileged youngsters each year.
The Anaheim White House is located at 887 South Anaheim Blvd., in Anaheim, Orange County. To make reservations or for more information, call (714) 772-1381 or visit www.anaheimwhitehouse.com.