Allison Burnham is artistic and creative. Born in Brooklyn to Bajan parents, the 37-year-old attended Brooklyn Technical High School and studied industrial design. A graphic artist by education and trade she attended New York City Technical College-City University of New York, completing an associate degree in art and advertising and a bachelor’s degree in communication design.
After working in event planning, she used her love of cooking to start a home-based company called Cakes By Allison, specialising in liquor-infused cakes for special occasions. The demand soon turned to cupcakes for kids’ parties and this began a love affair with fondant and creating one-of-a-kind cakes for birthdays, showers and weddings.
In 2000, she received a second bachelor’s in culinary arts from The Art Institute.
Having moved to Barbados recently, she is now chief cook and bottle washer for her company CoconutBaby, creating stylized versions of traditional Bajan desserts and also offering custom cakes. When she is not busy creating masterpieces, she finds time to make fashionable earrings.
Allison hopes to expand the business, creating jobs that give young people looking to express themselves through food a chance to hone their skills and branch out on their own.
Her motto is “Each one, teach one.” (NS)
