(Anaheim White House Owner Accepts Humanitarian of Year Award From Nat’l Rest Assn)

The owner of the Anaheim White House, one of Orange County’s finest restaurants, has been selected as this year’s “Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year� by the National Restaurant Association. Huntington Beach resident Bruno Serato, who founded his opulent Anaheim dining establishment in 1987, was selected by a panel of eight judges who reviewed restaurants across the nation for their ongoing charitable and community programs. According to National Restaurant Association Director of Community Relations Alyssa Prince, only one independent restaurateur -- Serato -- was recognized this year for demonstrating extraordinary commitment to his community. The award was presented by Congressman Edward Royce (40th District, Orange County) and Nebraska State Senator Ben Nelson at a ceremony held at the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill. Other restaurants, restaurateurs, chefs and food industry representatives were honored in other categories including “Restaurant Neighbor Award -- Small Business� and “Restaurant Neighbor -- Large Business.�
Serato is credited with aiding thousands of Orange County’s most impoverished youngsters by making sure they have dinner each night thanks to a program he and his mother formed two years ago. Caterina’s Club, named after Serato’s mother Caterina Lunardi, ensures that 60 hot, fully prepared dinners are delivered to the Anaheim Boys & Girls Club each night so that its needy youngsters have a nutritious, balanced meal before they go to bed. Serato also purchased a fully appointed van and donated it to facilitate the food deliveries and provide other critical transportation needs.
“On behalf of my mother and the entire team at the Anaheim White House, I am privileged to accept this prestigious award from the National Restaurant Association,� said Serato. “I owe this honor to my mother, for without her, Caterina’s Club would never have been as broad in scope as it is today. Thanks to my mother, Caterina, thousands of Orange County children will continue to benefit from her legacy for years to come.�
“We are all impressed by the extraordinary efforts of Bruno Serato and are very pleased to present him with our Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year award,� said Steven C. Anderson, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “His commitment to children in his community is a gift that keeps on giving as the child grows into adulthood. Providing opportunities for these children to get a nutritious meal and worthwhile after-school activities help give them the right start in life.�
Under Serato’s charismatic leadership, the Anaheim White House has earned a stellar reputation as one of Orange County’s finest restaurants. Renowned for its dramatic and artfully crafted cuisine, the 300+ seat fine dining establishment has counted celebrities, dignitaries, world leaders and regional culinary aficionados alike as loyal patrons for nearly 20 years. Situated in a historic 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 Star Diamond Award� from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and top rankings in the Zagat Dining Guide. Among the celebrities who dine there are Madonna; President Carter; President George W. Bush and his brother, Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush; the Crown Prince of Belgium; Danny DeVito; Keenan Ivory Wayans; Andrea Bocelli; Don King; John Elway and Sigfried & Roy.
The Anaheim White House is located at 887 South Anaheim Blvd., in Anaheim. To make reservations or for more information, call (714) 772-1381 or visit www.anaheimwhitehouse.com