Each year when it comes time to reveal the Orange County Chef of the Year, I mention that any candidate for the honor has to have built a trajectory of success over a much longer period.
I try to diligently track the progress of our local chefs. There are, ultimately, distinct reasons why any given chef impresses me.
As I recognize Eddie Meza of the White House in Anaheim as Orange County’s Chef of The Year this time, I must say that I could have picked him a long time ago.
Meza has been impressing critics and customers for years. Along the way, he has been plying us with inspiring flavors, finesse in presentation and an undertone of deep respect for customers and co-workers. The result is a tangible sense of romance and joy in dining.
Meza’s consistency in fascinating us with his cuisine has put him at the top of my list this year.
He’s also probably worked with more top-caliber chefs from here and abroad than anyone in Orange County.
On top of all of that, he participates in an amazing community outreach project for children.
The county has its own unique lifestyle. We’re not San Francisco or New York in terms of dining or otherwise. But I believe that if Meza were in a kitchen in those culinary centers he’d be knocking them over with his talents.
Success is achieved in restaurants where there is a vital and symbiotic relationship between the kitchen and dining room, placing customer satisfaction above all else.
Luckily, Anaheim White House is owned and operated by Bruno Serato, who shares this vision with Meza. Together, they have won much recognition from the industry and their peers, local charities and philanthropists, and even U.S. presidents past and present.
Meza was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, and arrived here in 1988 with no culinary training.
His guardian angel came in the form of Serato, who hired him as a dishwasher.
Soon, Meza was completely fascinated with the kitchen. He worked his way up the cooking line and impressed everyone with his abilities and work ethic.
As he neared his 12th year with Anaheim White House, Serato offered him the job of executive chef.
Fellow Luminaries
The position gave Meza an opportunity to work with such culinary luminaries as Jean-Pierre Lemanissier, who served as chef de cuisine at La Tour d’Argent in Tokyo; Jean-Pierre Dubray, former executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and now executive chef at Newport Beach’s Resort at Pelican Hill; Giacomo Pettinari, former chef of Valentino in Santa Monica; and Carolyn Robb, former private chef for Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
All the while, Meza advanced his cooking skills with studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, working under world famous chef Alain Ducasse. Some of the most famous names in entertainment, sports, journalism and the high-end literary world have dined at the Northern California restaurant attached to the school over the years, some becoming regular customers.
And that doesn’t even count the two former U.S. presidents—occupants of that other White House—who have enjoyed Meza’s cuisine. The political appeal shows some range, with Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush both fans.
Since becoming the executive chef at Anaheim White House, Eddie has received numerous awards.
The restaurant has earned top industry honors in contemporary Italian cuisine since 1997. It’s held the DiRoNA award for top restaurants in North America since 1998 and the International Star Diamond Award since 2004.
Community Outreach
Meza also has worked closely with Serato on what possibly is the most extensive outreach to a community by a restaurant.
The two have been preparing 150 hot meals daily for several years for underprivileged children at the Anaheim Boys & Girls Club. That comes to more than 40,000 dinners a year for children.
For some of the kids, it might be their only meal of the day.
Katie Couric of the CBS Evening News has highlighted the effort and People magazine recently honored the restaurant for its community commitment.
The quality and commitment help explain why a great number of customers come from afar—making the trip from all over the county and surrounding area—on a regular basis to enjoy the elegant Italian food that Meza serves in a beautifully romantic atmosphere.
Quite a trip, indeed, especially since Meza is serving up the same cuisine that’s all the rage with the cosmopolitan crowd in Italy these days.
