Frosty the Snowman took an empty seat at a table filled with children enjoying a Thanksgiving feast. Santa Claus strolled through the dining room, causing many young diners to leave their seats to check out the jolly old elf.
The afternoon meal for more than 200 area children is an annual tradition at the Anaheim White House restaurant owned by Bruno Serato. Serato started Caterina’s Club out of the restaurant in 2005, now feeding thousands of children in multiple cities warm meals each week.
Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, asks children if they are ready for dessert following their turkey dinner at his restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The children were also treated to riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Following a turkey dinner feast at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim, children ride saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included playing in bounce houses and visits with Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus during the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Claus greets few of the more than 200 children after they dined on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A few of the more than 200 children dine on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frosty the Snowman greets few of the more than 200 children as they dine on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, greets children as they arrive for a turkey dinner at his restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The children were also treated to riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Claus greets few of the more than 200 children after they dined on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Following a turkey dinner feast at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim, children ride saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included playing in bounce houses and visits with Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus during the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Following a turkey dinner feast at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim, children ride saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included playing in bounce houses and visits with Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus during the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A bow tie on a napkin as part of the place setting for the more than 200 children dining on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A few of the more than 200 children dine on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A few of the more than 200 children dine on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frosty the Snowman greets few of the more than 200 children as they dine on a turkey dinner at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Following a turkey dinner feast at the Anaheim White House restaurant in Anaheim, children wait in line with their saucers to ride down a hill of snow in the parking lot on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, put on the event which also included playing in bounce houses and visits with Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus during the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Chef Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant and founder of Caterina’s Club, asks children if they are ready for dessert following their turkey dinner at his restaurant in Anaheim on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The children were also treated to riding saucers down a hill of snow in the parking lot and playing in bounce houses as part of the afternoon festivities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
After the waiters served dessert, the diners made their way to the rear parking lot, which had been transformed into a winter playground with a hill of snow to ride saucers down. Bounce houses were also a popular attraction, with shoes scattered about everywhere.
As the snow began to melt in the late afternoon sun, a few socks got wet as the kids returned to the entrance of one of the bounce houses, but the smiles and laughter overshadowed any dampness.
The 14th annual KFI PastaThon will be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 3 collecting donations of pasta and sauce for Caterina’s Club, which started with the restaurant making pasta meals for the children. Drop off donations at the Anaheim White House Restaurant, 887 S. Anaheim Blvd.
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