“As with many countries around the world, if you are looking to fully immerse yourself in local culture, a street food cart is the ideal spot to do so,” says Trinidad-born celebrity chef, restauranteur and the Cooking Channel’s Man Fire Food host Roger Mooking. “Each island has their own specialties and are all worth exploring.”
Plus, street food is more than just an authentic Caribbean experience. Many would argue that street food vendors offer a far more superior product than what’s found in restaurants. Among those subscribing to that belief is Denville Myrie, a Jamaica-raised food truck chef, who operates his JerkatNite food truck in the metro D.C area. In his experience as both a food truck merchant and someone who regularly visits the islands, Myrie says street food vendors win the “taste contest” because they concentrate their efforts on select foods.
“If you ever go to a jerk man, you’ll notice that he’s selling you chicken and bread; he’s not selling you chicken, rice, cabbage, plantain, and all that stuff. He is focusing on that chicken,” Myrie says. “The street vendors put more passion into the food because you have to smell it, look at it, in order to trust them to buy it. It’s literally what you see is what you get.”
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Essence Eats: Made Bayou | Shrimp and Grits
Essence Eats: Made Bayou Ma Momma’s House of Cornbread Chicken & Waffles
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Myrie admits that when traveling, it’s easy to get comfortable with the seemingly endless food and drink options of all-inclusive resorts who rely on imports to feed their guests. But he urges tourists to venture off these private properties in an effort to fuel local commerce (Note: While tourism is a major economic driver for many Caribbean nations, the heavy reliance on food imports has unintentionally damaged local agriculture and food industries).
“The food ends up tasting better because it’s from the land,” Myrie says, suggesting that street food vendors are more likely to source their products from local farmers, fishermen and food producers. “So, if and when you see street food vendors, I encourage you to support them.”
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There are so many places outside of the resort to find great food. But how will you know what to order? We turned to chefs Mooking, Myrie and a few others to help us break down the best street foods on these popular islands. So, let’s hit the road!
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Jamaica
“Any jerk man on the side of the road is a go,” says Myrie, who insists tourists put jerk at the top of their street food lists. He also advises to try the local soup vendors, who often sell traditional Jamaican soups, such as cow soup, mannish water (a goat soup) and red pea soup. “I had the best soup I ever had in my life outside of Margaritaville in Montego Bay,” Myrie recalls about the Gloucester Avenue location known as the Hip Strip because of all its restaurants and merchants. “There’s always a line of street vendors outside.”
And last but not least, save room for the Jamaican beef patty and coco bread. For patties, visitors can’t go wrong with the Juici or Tastee franchises, which Myrie says are loved by tourists and locals alike.
Photo Credit: Denville Myrie Jr.
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Trinidad and Tobago
“In Trinidad, ask around for the best roti shop, and everyone will give you a different answer,” Mooking says about the staple dish, which is often served in two styles: wrapped or buss-up-shut. “Trinidadians have been known to go to the other side of the island just to hit up their favorite roti shop.”
But if you need somewhere to start, Mooking advises heading to Maracas Beach, where some of the island’s most famous food stalls are located. Here, tourists can taste another local favorite—bake and shark. The bake is a fried dough, hollowed out and stuffed with shark or another white fish. “The best part of the bake and shark experience is the endless array of condiments, including chopped vegetables, sauces, chutneys, herbs and pepper sauce (hot sauce); every single order you customize yourself just the way you like it. Nothing better,” Mooking adds.
After that, head to Ariapita Avenue for doubles. The double, which is a curried chickpea filling, sandwiched between two pieces of fried dough, is the quintessential street food of the nation. “I think they’re so popular because it’s easy, it’s tasty and you can eat them anytime,” says Dexter Samuels, a native of Trinidad and a celebrity personal chef currently based in Houston. “Ariapita Avenue has become the avenue for street food, you can get double, bake and shark, corn soup, which is another popular dish. You can get pretty much anything right there.”
Photo Credit: Alex Smailes for The New York Times
03
Barbados
“In Barbados, you are looking for a car pulled up on the side of the road with the trunk open serving up home cooked meals,” says Mooking about the surefire sign for a great find.
But for island signatures, seek out a bread-and-two (two fishcakes sandwiched in salt bread); cou-cou and flying fish (the Bajan national dish of cornmeal and fish) and macaroni pie (a cheesy macaroni casserole). For a new street food twist, head to Bridgetown’s Black Rock Main Road to find Yelluh Meat stand, which fire-roasts breadfruit bowls that are filled with meat, fish or vegetables and topped with pepper sauce.
Photo Credit: Yelluh Meat
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U.S. Virgin Islands
Still recovering from two hurricanes in 2017 that devastated the island, tourism dollars are ever-more welcome, according to Chef Livinton Bedminster. So, put the island on your radar to visit for local specialties like conch, fungi (a cornmeal and okra mash served warm), boiled snapper and bush tea (an herb infusion tea often sold on the roadside).
“When I come home, some of my favorite things to eat are conch and seafood. We do a lot of conch in butter sauce. We don’t do too much fritters like they do in Bahamas,” says Bedminster, who after manning Ritz Carlton kitchens in both his homeland of St. Thomas and his current base of Atlanta, recently decided to branch out into private catering and pop-up shops. He recommends seeking out vendors and food trucks in Crown Bay, on Red Hook Road and the Rothschild and Bordeaux farmer’s markets.
The greatest of love stories can start as friendships.
When Austyn, a dancer, choreographer, artist and daughter of Grammy-winning gospel artist Tye Tribbett, first laid eyes on Kaleb, a drummer and rapper, it was in 2017. Both parties had participated in a Wednesday night Bible Study at her father’s Live Church in Orlando. Aiming to welcome Kaleb to the group, Austyn approached. “I walked up to him afterward and was surprised and excited that he already knew my name,” she recalls. “From there, everything just felt so natural.”
With their older siblings already close, Austyn and Kaleb began to spend time together often, but only as friends. He became a drummer for Tribbett’s church and his official drummer on tour, of which Austyn was also a part. Despite their connection being “easy and effortless,” according to her, the two didn’t look at one another through a romantic lens out of fear of running a great friendship. That was a surprise to everyone around them who witnessed their chemistry.
Jami Films
“From the very beginning, everyone around us could see what we couldn’t—they just knew we were meant to be together,” she recalls. “They were patiently waiting for us to stop being so stubborn and take the leap.”
As with most things, sometimes it takes going through valleys, and having the support of someone you care about, for it to become evident that they’re something special. As they leaned on one another to get through life’s challenges, including loss, their bond became stronger. “Once we realized that, we knew we didn’t want to waste any more time,” Austyn says. That realization didn’t come until December of 2023. Still, when it came, it brought with it so much clarity that just nine months after finally beginning an actual relationship, Kaleb decided to propose. Even though he planned something elaborate, he simply asked for her hand during a thought-provoking discussion that came about after a moment with God. Divine timing, if you will.
“I proposed spontaneously because the moment just felt perfect,” Kaleb says. “We were having a deep and meaningful conversation, and I knew it would mean more to her than a grand, public proposal.”
She said yes, of course, and the two began to plan for their big day, which finally came on December 12, 2024.
The couple tied the knot at her father’s lakefront property, in the sprawling backyard. The celebration was an intimate one, with the attendance of close friends and family, including Pastor John Gray and Kirk Franklin, whom Austyn calls “Uncle Kirk.”
With her favorite red roses all over the backyard and the support of their loved ones, the couple took yet another significant leap of love, this time into forever. “I’m excited to see how our love continues to grow with each new milestone,” Austyn says. “This wedding was a beautiful turning point, allowing us to see new sides of each other and deepening our connection.”
Check out all the beauty for yourself in this week’s Bridal Bliss, which includes another sweet Behind Bridal Bliss video in which the couple recounts their love story.
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In Her Element
Austyn finishes up her bridal glam as she prepares for the ceremony.
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Suited and Booted for Love
A dapper Kaleb also puts the finishing touches on his look as he waits to jump the broom.
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In Full Bloom
An image of the decor at the altar that awaited the couple. “Red roses are my favorite flower, and they’re the same flowers Kaleb used when he proposed to me,” Austyn says.
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A Blushing Bride
A mother’s love? It’s the perfect finishing touch. Austyn is pictured with her mom, Shante’.
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A Proud Papa
Austyn’s dad, music legend Tye Tribbett, got emotional as he caught sight of his not-so-little girl, ready to walk down the aisle.
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A Father’s Blessing
The first man she ever loved, leading her to the man she’ll love forever.
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Happy Tears
“Having everyone come together to celebrate the love and commitment Kaleb and I share truly moved me,” Austyn says. “But the moment that will forever be etched in my heart was seeing Kaleb tear up at the altar. That image is something I’ll never forget!”
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Here Comes the Bride
“Seeing my wife walk down the aisle was indescribable,” Kaleb says. “She looked absolutely stunning in that dress—it was perfect for her! I was so excited to see her after being apart all day.” He also counts having his brother and father present, the latter a cancer survivor, as moments he cherishes.
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United as One
In addition to a unity sand ceremony, Austyn and Kaleb lit a candle together to signify the two parties coming together. The candle read, “And the two shall become one,” from Ephesians 5:31.
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How Austyn Knew She’d Found Her Person
I knew Kaleb was my person because this feels safe—it feels like home,” she says. “With him, I can fully be myself and embrace everything I’m meant to be. Being in this space has allowed me to love myself more deeply and, in turn, love the people around me even better.”
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You May Kiss the Bride
And with that, the couple were introduced as husband and wife — the Lucketts.
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How Kaleb Knew He’d Found His Person
“Being with Austyn has transformed me in so many ways—I’ve grown as a man because of her,” he says. “When I leave her presence, I don’t carry guilt or shame like I did in the past. Every moment with her feels right, effortless, and grounded in something real. Unlike past relationships that were rooted in shared pain or trauma, loving her is freeing. It’s pure.”
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A Silent Promise
“Over the course of our friendship, we supported each other through so much—moments of loss, challenges to our faith, and countless ups and downs,” the bride says. “Through it all, one thing became clear: No matter what life threw at us, our love and respect for each other only grew stronger.”
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We Are Family
The couple, with their parents and siblings after the ceremony. Recalling the excitement the family had when they became engaged, Austyn says, “My parents were thrilled to see us take this next step and mature into this decision together. But when we finally set a wedding date and started sharing details, that’s when it really hit them—it became real, and their excitement grew even more! My dad, especially, was overjoyed because Kaleb has been like a son to him since the day they met back in 2018.”
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Together, We Shine
Austyn poses with her tribe, radiant in red, as Mrs. Luckett.
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Special Guests
Some big names were invited to the wedding, including Pastor John Gray and Kirk Franklin. “I’ve known Uncle Kirk since I was a baby, and our families have always been there for each other during special moments,” says Austyn.
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The Table Is Set
With the idea of red roses in mind, the tables were decked out with these floral centerpieces, red plates and napkins, gold flatware and black and gold tablecloths.
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A Cake As Beautiful As the Day
In step with the decor, Austyn and Kaleb’s tiered cake incorporated red roses, as well as gold and black accents.
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The First Dance
The couple take a spin on the dance floor to begin the reception fun.
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Daddy-Daughter Moment
Austyn and her dad (who enjoyed an outfit change that embraced the red, black and gold color scheme), share a hug as they took to the dance floor.
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A Celebratory Speech
Speaking to her bond with Franklin, seen here giving a speech, Austyn says, “During The Reunion Tour in 2023, Uncle Kirk and I grew especially close. In fact, we even went viral together a few times—it was such a memorable experience!”
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What the Future Holds
In addition to seeing the ways in which their connection deepens as husband and wife, Austyn says, “We’re also looking forward to creating and sharing more of our music together, and watching our artistry evolve along with our love.”
