Peter & Anne moved to Anguilla in 1996 to open Straw Hat Restaurant. Peter, a former video game and television producer, worked in New York for Viacom New Media and then for Nickelodeon® where he was Associate Producer of Blue’s Clues™, a popular children’s program. Anne previously worked for Gartner Group in Stamford, CT where she was a primary salesperson for their European trade show division. After a rocky start, including the rebuilding of the restaurant after Hurricane Georges in 1998, they are quite pleased with the way the restaurant has turned out. The restaurant has been featured in numerous magazine and newspaper articles worldwide and has most recently been featured in Town & Country Travel as well as Gourmet Magazine (Ten Great Things About Anguilla – Nov. 2002), and Bon Appetit (May 2006). Straw Hat Restaurant was also named to Conde Nast Traveler “Hot List” as one of the top 50 restaurants worldwide, and listed by Caribbean Travel & Lifeas one of their favorite restaurants in the Caribbean. The couple enjoys living in Anguilla year-round with their sons Jacob and Kenny.
Doris Brooks – Assistant Manager
This is Doris’ eighth season at Straw Hat and many will remember her as the first person they encounter at the restaurant. Among her many responsibilities, Doris answers the phone and takes all reservations at Straw Hat and is happy to accommodate all possible requests. Doris is from Germany and has been in Anguilla for twenty years. She loves working at Straw Hat and also enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her two daughters. She is in the dining room every night so make sure to say hello when you’re here!
Renee Connor – Waitress
Renee has been involved with Straw Hat since the very beginning when she used to wash and iron the napkins for the restaurant at Peter and Anne’s house. She worked at Malliouhana at that time and then moved to CuisinArt when they opened their doors in the 1999/2000 season. Recently Renee left Cuisinart to work on her women’s clothing shop at the Eldorado Mall in Water Swamp. Renee has been a waitress at Straw Hat for eleven years now and you can always count on her to greet you with a smile and answer any and all of your questions about the island, the menu or the restaurant.
Armel Harrigan – Waitress
Peter and Armel met way back in 1989 at the old Arlo’s restaurant in Anguilla. When Peter and Anne started Straw Hat in 1996, they immediately asked Armel to come work with them…after a few years, Armel joined the Straw Hat team and has been with us since 2001. Originally from Maidenhead, England, you will know why she’s a special part of Straw Hat the moment you meet her or hear her voice.
Straw Hat
