May 10th, 2006
Anaheim White House Restaurant
Once encircled by orange groves, this stately 1909 colonial-style mansion seems incongruous with its current surroundings – situated in the heart of industrial Anaheim, a five-minute drive from Disneyland.
Set off the road, The Anaheim White House Restaurant provides a glimpse into a previous era – one defined by understated elegance, gentility and nostalgia. This historic architectural treasure has been meticulously restored inside and out and in its current incarnation is home to an inventive menu of gourmet cuisine tempering Northern Italian style with French sensibilities.
Owner Bruno Serato’s iconic establishment houses eight distinct dining areas – and the well-named “white house†is exactly that – with white-on-white rooms trimmed in gold on the main and second floors.
For starters, The Anaheim White House serves up a selection of specialty appetizers guaranteed to satisfy even the most discriminating diner: The Sophia Loren Caviar combines Caspian Sea sturgeon caviar with chives, red onion, egg ,crème fraiche and blini: Fife’s Creation arrives as delicate pasta sheets layered with delectable crab meat with a tomato béchamel sauce; and the Raioloni Caterina, the Juventus Ravioli and the Gwen Stefani Ravioli are a trio of rich delights – the first is homemade ravioli stuffed with Fontina cheese, served with delicate sauce & a touch of espresso and the Juventus are al dente pasta stuffed with a combination of Italian cheeses in a wild Porcini mushroom sauce, while the latter are lobster filled ravioli with basil on a sauce of ginger and citrus.
For the main course, seafood aficionados have their work cut out for them in deciding between the Ferre Halibut (baked Alaskan halibut with julienne of vegetables served in a Pinot Grigio sauce), the Dolce Gabbana Sand Dabs (delicate whitefish fillets lightly breaded in a light lemon buerre blanc served with Italian fresh herbs) and the Romeo Gigli Salmon Chocolat (poached salmon served atop a delicious white chocolate mashed potato puree in a citrus buerre blanc).
The Filetto di Romeo and Juliette, an oven roasted filter mignon served on top of a baked polenta and surrounded by an Italian gorgonzola sauce – was a steak to remember, enhanced (rather than overwhelmed) by gorgonzola. The wine list notes more that 200 Californian and European vintages and the Edna Valley Pinot Noir proved to be an excellent complement to this succulent steak entrée.
Whatever you do, save room for dessert .. the Madonna Soufflé is a decedent Grand Marnier soufflé served with a Crème Anglaise, chocolate ganache and a Chantilly whipped cream.