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When flames reduced his restaurant to rubble, the last thing anyone expected to find was a silver crucifix among the charred remains. But that’s exactly what firefighters handed over to Bruno Serato—a gift from Pope Francis himself. For Serato, this wasn’t just a lucky find. “This is a sign, a sign of God for sure, no doubt about it,” he told CBS News. It was a divine nudge to keep going, even when everything else had crumbled.
And go on he did. That crucifix in the ashes sparked a calling.
Instead of bowing out, the Italian-born chef doubled down on a mission he’d started years earlier: feeding kids in need. The fire that destroyed his Anaheim restaurant, The Anaheim White House, may have left him without a kitchen—but it lit a fire in his soul.
Fine dining by night, fighting hunger by day
By evening, the Anaheim White House offers swanky Italian dishes to the well-heeled crowd. But behind the scenes, it’s a very different story. Every plate served to paying guests helps fund warm pasta dinners for kids across Southern California through his nonprofit, Caterina’s Club. The name honors Serato’s mother, Caterina, who first inspired him to help a struggling child living in a motel with his mother.
Founded in 2005, Caterina’s Club began with just one meal for one child—but that spark has grown into over 5,000 dinners served daily across Orange and Los Angeles counties.
That’s right—daily.
And Serato isn’t slowing down. His work hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Named a CNN Hero in 2011, and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Serato’s journey from arriving in the U.S. with just $200 and no English to becoming a force of compassion is nothing short of remarkable.
Encouraged by a pope, inspired by a saint
Serato met Pope Francis four times, and during their final meeting, the Pope looked over a book documenting Serato’s work and said, “Bravo, bravo, continua cosi.” Translation? “Continue like this.”
That wasn’t just encouragement—it was a divine order, as far as Serato was concerned. “I have to keep doing what I’m doing, if I don’t he come down!” he joked to CBS News.
It’s a fitting connection. Pope Francis took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the poor, who famously gave up wealth to serve others. Serato, in his own modern way, channels that same spirit—one pasta bowl at a time.
And now, in the wake of Pope Francis’s recent passing, Serato’s mission feels more poignant than ever. The legacy of a pontiff known for humility and compassion lives on in the work of people like Serato—those who took the Pope’s words to heart and turned them into action.
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-handing-over-a-box-with-food-6995221/
From fire to fuel: how to turn tragedy into impact
If you’re wondering how to turn your own setback into something meaningful, here’s the recipe Serato seems to follow:
- Find your “why.” For Serato, it was that first child living in a motel. What’s your moment of clarity?
- Start where you are. He had a kitchen and a pot of pasta. You don’t need millions to make an impact—just a bit of heart.
- Let pain fuel purpose. The fire didn’t break him; it built him. Sometimes loss clears the way for something bigger.
- Make it personal. Naming the charity after his mom wasn’t just sentimental—it grounded the mission in family values.
Celebrating two decades of impact
October marks the 20th anniversary of Caterina’s Club. That’s two decades of flipping fettuccine into fuel for change. With thousands of meals served every day, Serato has built more than a restaurant—he’s built a movement.
And for anyone who’s ever doubted whether a small act of kindness can make a big difference, Serato’s story is proof. Sometimes, all it takes is one crucifix in the ashes, one Pope’s encouragement, and a heart that refuses to quit.
Fun fact? Saint Francis of Assisi—the man who inspired the Pope who inspired Serato—once said, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Bruno Serato’s been living that quote for 20 years—and dinner’s still being served.
