Those White, White Houses

Tired of hearing about that other White House? (You know, the one in Washington?) Orange County offers several less turbulent examples, notably the White House, the White House, the White House and (there’s a revolutionary in every crowd) Thee White House.

1. LUNCH

Thee White House, an Anaheim restaurant offering mostly Italian dining, occupies a 1909 colonial-style Craftsman, a former residence that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historians call it the Truxaw-Gervais House. Physician John Truxaw, whose family lived there for a half century, until 1969, reportedly delivered 3,500 babies spanning three generations. The restaurant opened in 1981; Verona native Bruno Serato took over in 1987 and there leads a very civilized world.

That extra “e” in Thee could stand for elegance. The decor is cream and rose, with floral-print wallpaper and tapestry fabrics. Napkins in the shape of tuxedos, complete with little paper bow ties, are inspired touches.

Serato is a bit star-struck, hence lining one hallway you’ll find a John Elway football jersey and photos of Hollywood celebrities (George Burns) and politicians (Jimmy Carter) who have dined there.

And hence the names of many of the dishes: Sophia Loren smoked Norwegian salmon is a Napoleon of smoked salmon between sheets of crispy taro root with sour cream, capers, red onion and salmon pearls ($9.50 at lunch). Most items are named for fashion designers, and several are French-inspired of late, for example, Coco Chanel poisson en croute (Northern halibut in puff pastry with tarragon and lime beurre blanc, $13). Look for Christian Dior sweetbreads in the fall.

Pastas start at $10.50. While construction is going on in the area as part of Disneyland’s big expansion, an express prix-fixe lunch--three courses with choice of four entrees, 45 minutes on request--is $15.95.

2,3. AFTERNOON

The White House Doll and Toy Museum in Stanton features Hobby City founder Bea DeArmond’s collection of rare antique dolls from around the world; DeArmond, in her 80s, is still curator at the museum, which is housed in an impressive half-scale model of the White House in Washington. Admission is 50 cents to $1.

The White House Women’s Boutique in Laguna Beach carries only merchandise that is white or such shades of white as taupe or gray. There’s a second location at MainPlace/Santa Ana. Christine Kowalski, a saleswoman at the Laguna store, said, “We carry more linen and sundresses. Santa Ana carries more suits.”

Next to Laguna’s White House, also in the Landmark Plaza, is a sister store, the Black Market. “It’s a similar concept,” noted assistant manager Norma Bustos, though several outfits at Black Market incorporate white.

4. DINNER

The White House in Laguna Beach, a restaurant that boasts 80 years of service, now offers contemporary cuisine indoors and on a sidewalk patio and wildly popular entertainment at night in the bar. In fact, the White House has been described in this newspaper as “perhaps [the] city’s busiest and noisiest dance-club restaurant.”

On the walls are photos of vintage Laguna Beach and incongruous pastoral and religious wall hangings. Among more interesting-sounding items on the menu are an appetizer of Dijon green-lip mussels ($7.95), a spinach and mango salad ($6.95), linguine Thailandaise ($12.95) and chicken Cubano ($11.95). Burgers are cooked medium-well to well-done only, the menu says, because of recent health department regulations.

Hey, honesty in a White House counts for something!

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1. Thee White House Italian restaurant

887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 772-1381.

Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner 5-10 p.m. daily.

2. The White House Doll and Toy Museum

Hobby City, 1238 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 527-2323.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

3. The White House boutique

361 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-7882.

10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

4. The White House restaurant

340 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8088.

11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Restaurant open until 10 p.m.

PARKING / BUSES

Parking: There is valet parking at Thee White House, free parking in a lot behind the Doll and Toy Museum, and metered street and city-lot parking near the Laguna Beach locations.

Buses: OCTA bus No. 47 runs along Anaheim Boulevard in Anaheim. Bus No. 29 runs along Beach Boulevard in Anaheim. Bus No. 1 runs along South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach.