Some of The OC’s best known chef/restaurateurs are about to cook-up some lessons in the culinary arts to young students enrolled in the Hospitality Academy program, an offshoot of the world-famous nonprofit, Caterina’s Club. Antonello Ristorante’s Antonio Cagnolo, Pascale Ohlats known for his eponymous eateries, Laurent Brazier Executive Chef of the White House Catering at Christ Cathedral, Pierre Sauvaget from the Bel Air Country Club, Jean Pierre DeBrey of Pelican Hill, Maurice Brazier Executive Chef at The Anaheim White House Catering, Eddie Meza, Executive Chef at The Anaheim White House, and David Lorenzo Executive Pastry Chef at The Anaheim White House will share their knowledge and experiences having run some of the region’s finest dining establishments before 60 at-risk youth who are seeking careers in the hospitality field.
The Anaheim School District has been teaming with Caterina’s Club for 3 years, grooming students grades 9-12 for careers in restaurants, hotels and other tourism related industries. The 9-week program covers food preparation, service, marketing, nutrition and customer service. It concludes with a graduation ceremony at the Anaheim White House during which students showcase their skills before friends and family.
“I’m delighted that so many of my colleagues in the restaurant business have offered their time and resources to make this year’s Hospitality Program one of the most exciting to date,” said Serato, who said that 132 at-risk teens have completed the intensive 9 week program and graduated our Academy.
“If this program were not in existence, many of these youths might otherwise be roaming the streets without adult supervision.”
Caterina’s Club serves pasta each night in 89 locations in Orange and LA counties with more 2.9 million meals served to date. His influence has extended far beyond the local area to include Chicago, New York, Texas, Mexico and Italy. The nonprofit also has helped scores of mostly "motel families escape motel living in squalid conditions by securing safe, clean homes for them.
For his humanitarian work, Serato has earned international publicity including profiles in People Magazine, CBS, NBC, CNN as well as newspapers and magazines the world over. Among his many honors: CNN Hero, knighted by the Italian government, knighted by the House of Savoy, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, papal blessing from Pope Francis, humanitarian award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and numerous proclamations, Man of the Year awards and other forms of recognition -- all of which he accepts to generate public awareness of the needs of our most vulnerable population – our children. For more information, visit www.caterinasclub.org