Caribbean Restaurants Score Big: Stush in the Bush and Buzo Osteria Make North America Best Restaurants

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Sept. 30, 2025:The Caribbean culinary scene has scored a major victory on the international stage, with two restaurants from the region earning coveted spots on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in North America list for 2025. Jamaica’s Stush in the Bush and Barbados’ Buzo Osteria Italiana now stand shoulder to shoulder with top dining destinations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — proving that Caribbean cuisine is as innovative, diverse, and world-class as any in the hemisphere.

Stush in the Bush: Farm-to-Table Brilliance in Jamaica

One of the fine dishes on the menu at Stush In the Bush.

Nestled in the lush hills of St. Ann, Jamaica, Stush in the Bush is more than just a restaurant — it is a love story, a cultural experience, and a bold reimagining of Ital cuisine. Founded by husband-and-wife team Christopher and Lisa Binns, the restaurant embodies a holistic farm-to-table ethos.

Guests begin their journey by walking through an organic farm where much of the produce on their plates is grown. The couple emphasizes sustainability, respect for the land, and celebrating the abundance of Jamaica’s soil. Dishes are not only vegetarian or vegan-friendly but elevated to fine-dining artistry.

Lisa Binns, co-founder and storyteller behind the brand, often reminds visitors that “food is love.” At Stush in the Bush, every meal becomes an act of communion — combining Rastafari Ital traditions with gourmet presentation. The restaurant’s recognition on the 50 Best list signals not just excellence in taste, but also the global rise of sustainable Caribbean gastronomy.

Buzo Osteria Italiana: Italian Flavors with a Caribbean Soul

While Stush in the Bush leans into Jamaica’s roots, Barbados’ Buzo Osteria Italiana offers an unexpected twist — refined Italian dining at the heart of the Caribbean. With chic interiors, a robust wine program, and impeccable service, Buzo is led by the talented Chef Nakita Goddard, a Barbadian trailblazer in a male-dominated global industry.

What makes Buzo stand out is not just its dedication to authentic Italian cuisine — from handmade pastas to wood-fired pizzas — but how it pairs those traditions with Caribbean warmth and flair. Chef Goddard has earned respect for her leadership and her ability to balance tradition with innovation, proving that the Caribbean can excel far beyond its expected culinary lanes.

The restaurant’s recognition highlights the region’s ability to attract global fine-dining enthusiasts while celebrating local leadership in international cuisine.

What This Means for Caribbean Culinary Tourism

The inclusion of Stush in the Bush and Buzo Osteria Italiana on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list is about more than prestige. It reflects a growing acknowledgment that Caribbean cuisine is diverse, sophisticated, and worthy of global spotlight.

For years, Caribbean food has been stereotyped as casual fare — jerk chicken, patties, roti, or fried fish. While those dishes remain cultural staples, restaurants like these show that the region is equally capable of producing sustainable fine dining and world-class culinary experiences.

This recognition is also a boost for tourism. Food travelers — a fast-growing niche — are more likely to add Jamaica and Barbados to their itineraries when destinations boast award-winning restaurants. It positions the Caribbean not just as a place for sun and sand, but also for unforgettable dining adventures.

A Defining Moment for Caribbean Cuisine

Both restaurants represent different sides of the Caribbean story. Stush in the Bush is rooted in land, culture, and a return to sustainable living. Buzo Osteria Italiana blends global influence with local leadership, proving the Caribbean’s versatility.

Together, their recognition on the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list is a milestone. It sends a clear message: Caribbean chefs, restaurateurs, and communities are ready to take their place on the world stage.

As the culinary world continues to evolve, the Caribbean’s diversity — from Ital vegan plates in Jamaica to refined Italian dining in Barbados — shows that this region has flavors, stories, and innovations that deserve to be celebrated globally.

US Trafficking In Persons Report Places 2 Countries On Tier 3 List, Several On Tier 2

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Sept. 30, 2025: The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report has placed two Caribbean nations in its lowest category – Tier 3 – while ranking others across Tier 2 and the Tier 2 Watch List, underscoring the region’s ongoing struggle to meet global anti-trafficking standards.

FLASHBACK – Detainees accused of involvement in a network of international sexual exploitation, are escorted after a hearing at the Permanent Attention Court of the National District, in Santo Domingo, on August 29, 2022. – Judge Kenya Romero issued 18 months of preventive detention against 11 of the 21 defendants, of Dominican, Colombian and Venezuelan nationalities, belonging to the alleged human trafficking network for sexual exploitation, which was dismantled in Operation Cattleya. Eighty women from Colombia and Venezuela who were lured into the Dominican Republic with false promises of well paid jobs, were rescued in the operation. (Photo by Erika SANTELICES / AFP) (Photo by ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images)

The Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten joins Cuba on the Tier 3 list this year again this year, signaling governments failed to meet the minimum standards of the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act, (TVPA), and are not making significant efforts to do so. According to the report, Tier 3 nations can face restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance and reduced support in accessing international financing.

What Tier 3 Means

Tier 3 is considered the most serious category under the TVPA. Countries in this ranking are judged not only to have widespread trafficking challenges but also to lack the political will or sufficient measures to combat the issue. Sanctions may include withholding of non-humanitarian aid and blocking loans from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, unless waived by the U.S. President for strategic or humanitarian reasons.

For Sint Maarten and Cuba, the listing highlights systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations and prosecuting traffickers. It also raises concerns about complicity or inaction among government officials in addressing the crisis.

Tier 2 and Tier 2 Watch List in the Caribbean

While only two Caribbean nations landed on Tier 3, many others remain under close scrutiny.

Tier 2 countries include:

Antigua & Barbuda

Belize

Jamaica

Curaçao

Dominican Republic

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Aruba

Trinidad and Tobago.

These governments “do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.” That effort includes passing laws, prosecuting cases, or supporting victims, though progress remains uneven. Last year, Curacao was on the Tier 3 level but has managed to move into Tier 2 this year.

Meanwhile, Saint Lucia and Barbados were placed on the Tier 2 Watch List. Countries on this list face additional warning signs: significant increases in estimated trafficking victims, insufficient evidence of progress compared to prior years, or troubling signs of complicity by government officials. A Watch List designation is often a precursor to Tier 3 if sustained improvements are not made.

How Trafficking Is Defined

A model walks the runway wearing Stop Human Trafficking during Prestige NYFW 2025 on September 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Prestige NYFW)

Under the TVPA and the UN’s Palermo Protocol, human trafficking encompasses:

Acts: recruiting, transporting, or harboring people for labor or sex.

Means: using force, fraud, or coercion.

Purpose: exploiting victims for commercial sex, forced labor, or slavery-like practices.

Notably, a person does not need to be moved across borders for trafficking to occur. Victims can be exploited within their own communities.

US Findings and Sources

The TIP Report is compiled from a wide range of sources, including U.S. embassies, international NGOs, survivor testimony, government data, and investigative journalism. The 2025 report covers efforts between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

According to the State Department, governments are judged not on the size of the trafficking problem, but on their concrete efforts to combat it. These efforts are assessed based on prosecutions, victim protections, prevention campaigns, and budgetary resources devoted to anti-trafficking measures.

Implications for the Caribbean

The findings come as a warning for Caribbean governments that remain vulnerable to human trafficking due to porous borders, reliance on migrant labor, and tourism-driven economies. Sint Maarten’s downgrade to Tier 3 alongside Cuba raises particular concern given its role as both a tourist destination and transit point.

For nations on Tier 2 and the Watch List, the report serves as both recognition of progress and a cautionary note that efforts must be scaled up. The U.S. emphasized that countries failing to demonstrate measurable progress may face automatic downgrades in future reports.

The Bottom Line

Human trafficking continues to pose a grave threat across the Caribbean, with women, children, and migrant workers especially at risk. The 2025 TIP Report makes clear that while some governments are moving in the right direction, others risk international isolation for their failure to act.