Introduction
Food is one of the most memorable parts of any celebration. It tells stories, preserves traditions, and delights guests in ways that last long after the event ends. At Saint Patrick Palace, weddings and private events shine even brighter because of our open vendor policy. Couples have the freedom to choose the caterers, chefs, or food trucks that best reflect their culture and style.
This flexibility is especially important in South Florida, a region known for its incredible diversity. From Caribbean islands to Asia, South America to the American South, each community has brought its unique flavors to the table. At an Airbnb wedding, that means couples can celebrate their heritage, surprise their guests, and design menus that feel truly personal.
Here are seven cuisines that have created unforgettable experiences at Saint Patrick Palace, along with the option of DIY home cooking for families who want to make their celebration even more intimate.
Caribbean: Island Flavor for Your Wedding Feast
Golden Bahamian conch fritters with dipping sauce
Bahamian Cuisine
Bahamian food is as bright and lively as the islands themselves. The flavors often highlight fresh seafood, citrus, and spices. Dishes balance sweet heat with savory depth, using conch, fish, and tropical fruits as the stars. Guests love staples like cracked conch, rock lobster tails, and peas ‘n rice.
The cooking style is casual yet bold, often involving frying, grilling, and stewing. Bahamian chefs use lots of seasoning blends that combine onions, peppers, thyme, and citrus. At a corporate event, a Bahamian caterer created a conch fritter station, serving the bite-sized appetizers fresh from the fryer. Paired with spicy dipping sauces and rum cocktails, the food made a festive, island-inspired vibe that had guests dancing before dinner even ended.
Trinidad Cuisine
Trinidadian cuisine is known for its fusion of Indian, African, and Creole influences. The flavor base often includes curry, garlic, ginger, cumin, and hot peppers. Popular dishes include doubles (curried chickpeas served on flatbread), roti filled with meat or vegetables, and pelau, a savory one-pot rice dish with pigeon peas and chicken.
The cooking style is hearty and flavorful, with slow-cooked curries and breads made fresh to order. A Trinidadian chef set up a roti station for a wedding at Saint Patrick Palace, where guests watched as soft flatbreads were filled with curried chicken or goat. The rich aroma of spices filled the estate, and the line for the station stayed long throughout the night. It wasn’t just a meal—it was a cultural experience that reflected Trinidad’s vibrant food traditions.
East Asian: Bold, Flavorful, and Interactive
Thai green papaya salad with shredded papaya, carrots, tomatoes, and peanuts for a wedding reception.
Thai Cuisine
Thai food is famous for balancing the five flavor profiles—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy—all in one dish. It’s a cuisine that excites the palate while also being comforting. Common seasonings include lemongrass, ginger, galangal, chili, fish sauce, and coconut milk, creating layers of flavor that are both refreshing and bold.
Signature dishes like pad thai with stir-fried noodles, green curry simmered in coconut milk, and tom yum soup with its spicy-sour broth are loved around the world. In South Florida, these dishes are everyday favorites, showing up at food halls, food trucks, and elegant restaurants alike. Guests recognize them instantly, which makes them perfect for weddings where you want dishes that are approachable yet full of personality.
The cooking style emphasizes fresh herbs, aromatic broths, and quick stir-fries that burst with flavor. Meals often feature bright colors, crisp vegetables, and fragrant sauces that delight all the senses. A birthday celebration at Saint Patrick Palace hired a local Thai food truck, which parked on the estate lawn and served custom curry bowls. Guests picked red, green, or yellow curry, then chose their protein and level of spice. The aromas of basil, lime, and chili drifted across the patio. The food wasn’t just tasty—it became part of the atmosphere. Vibrant, colorful, and interactive, the experience brought warmth and excitement to the event. Couples seeking an adventurous yet universally loved experience often choose Thai cuisine, as it balances comfort with curiosity.
Korean Cuisine
Korean cuisine is bold, flavorful, and profoundly communal. Flavors are built with garlic, sesame, soy sauce, and chili paste (gochujang). Popular dishes include bulgogi (marinated grilled beef), bibimbap (rice bowls with vegetables, egg, and meat), and of course, kimchi, the famous fermented cabbage side dish.
Cooking emphasizes grilling, fermenting, and seasoning layers. A casual graduation celebration in late May featured a Korean caterer’s tabletop BBQ experience, where servers brought sizzling bulgogi and galbi (short ribs) to each table. Guests built their own lettuce wraps with rice, meat, and kimchi. The hands-on dining style added energy and interaction, while the spicy-sweet flavors introduced many guests to something new. It was both delicious and fun, blending seamlessly into the spirit of a wedding feast.
South Asian: Colorful Spices and Celebratory Feasts
Fresh naan bread served at a South Florida Airbnb wedding with Indian cuisine and open vendor catering.
Indian Cuisine
Indian food is celebrated worldwide for its spices, colors, and variety, and in South Florida, it’s one of the most sought-after cuisines for events. Seasonings like turmeric, cumin, coriander, cardamom, and garam masala create dishes that are as aromatic as they are flavorful. The use of fresh herbs, layered spices, and slow cooking makes every meal feel like an experience.
Signature favorites include chicken tikka masala—with its creamy tomato sauce, biryani—fragrant rice layered with saffron and spiced meats, and crispy samosas stuffed with potatoes and peas. Warm naan bread and fluffy basmati rice make the perfect accompaniments. Vegetarian dishes such as chana masala (chickpeas in tomato sauce) and palak paneer (spinach with cheese) are just as beloved, ensuring that every guest—from meat lovers to vegetarians—has something to enjoy.
The cooking style emphasizes curries, tandoor-roasted meats, slow-simmered sauces, and freshly baked breads. Saint Patrick Palace hosted a wedding in which an Indian caterer created a lavish buffet with curries, breads, and appetizers, complete with a live tandoor oven. Guests watched as naan bubbled and blistered before being served hot from the clay oven. The spread was a feast for the senses—bright colors, rich aromas, and abundant variety filled the room. Paired with chai tea or mango lassi, the meal transported guests to South Asia without ever leaving South Florida.
Indian cuisine also connects powerfully to celebration. The dishes are designed for sharing, for abundance, and for honoring guests. At weddings, that energy fits perfectly. With so many flavor options and cooking styles, Indian food ensures that every guest walks away full, happy, and impressed.
North American: Comfort Food with Character
Texas BBQ brisket sliced at a wedding catering station in South Florida.
Texas BBQ Cuisine
Texas BBQ is all about smoky, slow-cooked meats and bold flavors. The stars of the menu are brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and sausage, cooked for hours over wood smoke. The seasoning style relies on spice rubs, often heavy on black pepper, paprika, and garlic.
The cooking method is patient and precise, with pitmasters tending the smoker until the meat is tender and juicy. Texas BBQ arrived at Saint Patrick Palace in a food truck that filled the air around the property with the mouthwatering aroma of hickory smoke. Guests lined up for brisket plates with cornbread, coleslaw, and baked beans. The hearty portions and casual, satisfying flavors made the meal a hit for both locals and out-of-town guests.
New Orleans Creole & Cajun Cuisine
Creole and Cajun food from Louisiana is soulful, spicy, and deeply tied to Southern traditions. Every dish reflects the region’s rich cultural blend of French, African, Spanish, and Native American influences. Seasonings like paprika, cayenne, thyme, bay leaf, and garlic form the base of many recipes, creating flavors that are bold yet comforting.
Signature favorites include gumbo, a slow-simmered stew with seafood or sausage, jambalaya, a rice dish layered with meats and spices, crawfish étouffée, rich with a roux-based sauce, and the classic red beans and rice served with smoked sausage. These dishes aren’t just meals—they’re a taste of Louisiana’s heritage, designed to feed crowds and spark joy.
The cooking style celebrates one-pot meals, hearty portions, and complex flavors that develop slowly. At a recent holiday party at Saint Patrick Palace, a New Orleans caterer curated a spectacular crawfish seafood boil. Long tables were covered with piles of crawfish, shrimp, corn, and potatoes, steaming and fragrant with Cajun spices. Guests rolled up their sleeves, ate with their hands, and shared in the laughter of the moment.
DIY Home Cooking
Not every couple wants to rely solely on vendors. Some families choose to cook their own recipes in the estate’s chef’s kitchen, bringing personal traditions to life. From secret curry recipes to family-style casseroles, these meals add a layer of intimacy that no caterer can replicate.
DIY home cooking turns preparation into part of the celebration. Relatives gather in the kitchen, laughter fills the air, and recipes are shared across generations. Guests taste more than just food—they taste the story of the family behind it. These meals make the event feel truly one of a kind.
Conclusion
Schedule a tour of Saint Patrick Palace, where food is never an afterthought. It is a centerpiece of celebration. Our open vendor policy allows couples to bring in vendors from across the globe—or even cook for themselves—to design a menu that reflects who they are. Whether it’s a Bahamian conch station, a Trinidadian roti bar, a Thai curry truck, or Texas BBQ straight from a smoker, the options are endless. Add in DIY family recipes, and the result is a wedding where food tells the story of culture, heritage, and love. That is what makes an Airbnb wedding in South Florida so special: flavor without limits, memories without end.