Editor’s note: Barbados Comes to Atlanta is sponsoring Global Atlanta through the nation’s consulate general in Miami.
Update: This article has been updated to highlight the menu at the event, which was catered by acclaimed chef and culinary educator Kareen Linton, assisted by students from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.
A decorated ”Bajan” chef prepared dishes inspired by her country, and the Atlanta community brought its interest in the Caribbean nation of Barbados as its representatives previewed an upcoming cultural and investment summit during a Buckhead reception April 21.
Designed to promote the “Barbados Comes to Atlanta” series of events May 26-29, which itself is poised to attract high-ranking officials including the prime minister and trade minister, the preview event drew more than 60 attendees to the law offices of Thompson Hine LLP, including the keynote speaker of the night, Kenneth Campbell, the top investment recruiter for the country.
Having flown in from Barbados, Mr. Campbell, head of investment promotion for Invest Barbados, told attendees that the country stands ready to help them put the island’s variety of international business and financial structures to use for their operations in Africa, Latin America and beyond.
Already, more than 4,000 international companies operate on the island. They’re predominantly from Canada and the United Kingdom, and now the country is hoping to expand its influence in the U.S. to show that Barbados is more than just a beach destination.
The event was catered by The Linton Group LLC, which is run by President, CEO and Executive Chef Kareen Linton, whose long list of culinary accolades includes membership in the exclusive Le Chaine des Rotissuer, a food and wine society dating back to 1248, as well as the Disciples of Escoffier USA-International, an elite order of chefs