Haitian & Caribbean Catering for Westchester, Hudson Valley & NYC

Elevated Caribbean.
Unforgettable Flavor.

HOME

Taste Buds Required brings authentic Haitian and Caribbean cuisine to weddings, corporate events, and celebrations throughout Westchester County, Hudson Valley, and the NYC metro area. With over 9 years of catering experience, we create memorable moments rooted in heritage, bold flavor and thoughtful presentation.

Whether you need drop-off catering or full-service event support, we create unforgettable culinary experiences rooted in heritage and styled with intention.

Choose Your Catering Style

From simple delivery to fully staffed celebrations,
choose the service style that fits your event.

Drop-Off Catering

Haitian & Caribbean favorites delivered and ready to serve.

Starting at $54.99/guest

Explore Drop-Off

Styled Grazing Tables

A beautifully styled spread designed for mingling and sharing.

Starting at $100/guest

See Grazing Options

Full-Service Catering

Staff, setup and thoughtful service from cocktail hour through dessert.

Starting at $115/guest

Explore Full-Service

More Than a Meal.
It’s a Moment

🎯 Haitian & Caribbean Cuisine — Rooted in tradition, styled with intention.
📦 Customizable Packages – Choose the service style that fits your event.
📍 Local & Woman-Owned – Based in NY, serving NYC, Westchester & beyond.
✨ Styled for Impact – Food that looks as good as it tastes.
🏆 Certified M/WBE – Recognized across NYC, NYS, and the Port Authority of NY & NJ.

Martine Dardignac prepping a grazing table

Taste Buds Required is…

A woman-owned, Haitian-led culinary company serving bold flavor and thoughtful hospitality across NYC, Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Serving weddings, corporate events, celebrations and culinary experiences since 2017.

Led by Martine Dardignac, Taste Buds Required blends heritage and hospitality in every bite.

MEET MARTINE

ABOUT

Testimonials

What People are Saying

Incredible to work with. Not only was the food phenomenal... but it was a pleasure working with Martine. She is so very organized... knowledgeable about catering events and weddings and gave me lots of pro tips. My only regret is that I cannot get married again to use her services! We could not have wished for anything more!

OLIVIA H.

This was hands-down one of the best culinary experiences that I’ve had—and I have enjoyed many of them over several decades! ... I experienced dishes from my childhood in a completely new light. They were still traditional but not heavy and that was a great contemporary twist... The experience was a delight. I would eat at the chef’s table again in a heartbeat!

FLORENCE L.

We ordered Beef Patties, Djon Djon, Legumes and sauce for a Haitian/Ghanaian wedding... and it was absolutely delicious! The food arrived on time despite many of our vendors being late... It was a pleasant experience from booking to delivery and execution! Highly recommend for authentic Haitian cuisine and excellent service.

NIMMA O.

Planning Tips, Flavor Inspo & Behind-the-Scenes

The Sweet Heat Story: How Flavor Balance Became Our Signature

Flavor balance is one of the hardest things to get right—and one of the easiest things to get wrong. At Taste Buds Required, sweet heat isn’t about shock value. It’s about contrast, restraint, and letting ingredients speak. More Than Just Spice Heat on its own is easy. What takes skill is pairing spice with sweetness, acidity, and depth so that no single element overwhelms the dish. That balance is what keeps people coming back for another bite. Sweet heat shows up across our

Food With Heart: Cooking for Community and Culture

At its core, Taste Buds Required has always been about more than feeding people. It’s about showing up for community. Food has a unique way of doing that. It brings people into the same space, creates shared moments, and opens the door to conversations that might not happen otherwise. That’s why community-centered events have always mattered to this brand. Food as a Connector Whether it’s a food festival, fundraiser, or collaborative event, the goal is the same: serve food th

Why Caribbean Food Belongs at the Center of Your Event

When people remember an event, they remember the food. Not just whether it was good — but whether it meant something . That’s why Caribbean cuisine works so powerfully at celebrations. It’s bold. It’s layered. It’s rooted in history and culture, yet endlessly adaptable to modern events. At Taste Buds Required, Caribbean food isn’t a theme — it’s a language. Flavor That Brings People Together Caribbean cuisine draws from African, French, Spanish, and Indigenous influences, cre

VISIT THE BLOG