Xin chào! Kumusta! Hello! My name is Annie – and as we say in the hospitality world, I am here to serve! I’ve been married to my husband, Phil Esguerra, for 18 years, and together we’re raising our four children – Emma, Ava, Eli, and Alex. For the past three years, we’ve been a homeschooling family, intentionally building a learning environment that values both strong character and academic growth. Our family is deeply rooted in the values of respect, integrity, curiosity, courage, and kindness. We believe these values are just as important as any curriculum, shaping not only how our children learn, but who they become and continually evolve to be.

As a homeschooling mom, a serial entrepreneur, a restaurateur, and a life-long learner, I am so excited to share the knowledge, skills and takeaways that I’ve learned throughout my journey of 30+ years in the hospitality industry. I’m passionate about creating hands-on learning experiences that encourage students to think creatively and critically, ask questions, take initiative, and grow in confidence. And I’m especially drawn to opportunities where students can apply what they’re learning in real, meaningful ways and engage with the world around them.

I believe that learning should be embraced everywhere and that the best lessons happen beyond the traditional classroom – whether at home, in the kitchen, at the grocery store, or traveling on family vacations. And because FOOD is a universal language that connects communities and transcends culture, the restaurant world is one of the best places to learn and practice kindness, stewardship, and teamwork, simultaneously while gaining business acumen!

At the heart of my approach to parenting, teaching, leading teams – to LIFE – is a simple idea: do MORE than expected, find the MAGIC in the work, and NEVER underestimate how far a small act of kindness can go…

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