Bruno Serato 2011 CNN Heroes Anaheim White House

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Bruno Serato, Our Hero

on December 23rd, 2011

23 Dec

Some thirty years ago, chef Bruno Serato arrived from Italy with $200 in his pocket. In 1987, he purchased the 1909 National Historical Landmark building in Orange County, California, that housed the Anaheim White House restaurant since 1981. Thus began the latest chapter in Serato’s success story.

His cuisine, passion and energy have attracted many celebs to the Anaheim restaurant, including Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, athletes David Beckham and Martina Navratilova and actors Sidney Poitier and Danny DeVito to name a few. Singer Gwen Stefani even has a dish dedicated to her: lobster ravioli. GAYOT.com has given the landmark numerous accolades, naming it one of the Top 10 Orange County Italian Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Wine List Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Romantic Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Special Occasion Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Business Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Star Spotting Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Thanksgiving Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County New Year’s Eve Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County Food Rating Restaurant.

More and more people are now getting to know the big-hearted chef, thanks to another award. CNN has named him one of their ten “2011 CNN Heroes.” This was not for cooking for dignitaries and celebrities, but for cooking for about 300 underprivileged kids for the past seven years, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Watch my exclusive interview with Serato to learn more about his other job. The video is lengthy, but it is a tribute to him, as he spends so much time helping these unfortunate kids, who would not get dinner without his noble efforts.

You can help these children, too: every time you dine at Anaheim White House, a free pasta dinner is served to a child. When you visit the restaurant, you are welcome to drop uncooked pasta in a basket at the entrance. You can also make donations through his charity, Caterina’s Club. It is named after his mother, as she is the one you gave him the idea. It is Christmas time, so be generous.

Here at GAYOT.com, we all wish you Happy Holidays!

You can click on each photo to enlarge to see dishes from Anaheim White House restaurant menu. All photos by Sophie Gayot.

: Ravioli Arragosta: Lobster and basil filled ravioli with a sauce of Japanese ginger and citrus

: Portobello Mushroom Ravioli: Portobello mushroom stuffed ravioli seved with glace and green peppercorns over sautéed locally grown spinach

: Tuna Tartare: Hawaiian ahi tuna, finely chopped and served with a mildly spiced dressing

: Carpaccio di Manzo: Thinly sliced raw Angus beef drizzled with extra virgin olive oil served with fresh Parmesan shavings and micro green garnish

: Calamari con Grappa: Sliced calamari steak with shallots and a dash of Italian grappa over Italian Barilla pasta

: Assortment of pasta

: Linguini al Pesto

: Rigatoni Carbonara: Large tube pasta tossed in a sauce of Grana Padano cheese, egg and sautéed bacon

: Contemporary Greens: Mesclun greens tossed with passion fruit vinaigrette

: Rotolo di Calamari: Sautéed calamari steak rolled and stuffed with crab, served in a traditional Picatta style sauce of lemon and Supremo Italiano capers

: Branzino al Cartoccio: Chilean sea bass baked in a parchment basket, presented in a Spanish saffron and seafood infusion

: Brasato Piemontese: Boneless beef short ribs braised in an Italian Barolo reduction topped with horseradish

: Romeo & Juliet Filet Mignon: Oven-roasted Angus filet mignon presented with local dairy bleu-Gorgonzola cheese sauce

: Ossobuco Milanese: Braised bone-in veal shank served with locally farmed herbs over soft Italian polenta finished with porcini mushrooms

: “Jackie O.,” an invention by pastry chef David Lorenzo, who creates fantasy sculptures from caramel and sugar and then surrounds the plate with bite-size cakes, pastries and chocolate-covered strawberries.