Nina Compton

Nina Compton
Born1978 or 1979 (age 47–48)
EducationThe Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park
Culinary career
Current restaurant
Television show
Awards

Nina Compton is a Saint Lucian-American chef and restaurateur in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2018 she won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: South.

Early life and education

Compton was born in Saint Lucia and grew up in the island's Moulin à Vent area. She is one of five children of Janice and Sir John George Melvin Compton, who served as Prime Minister of Saint Lucia on three occasions. She grew up cooking with her English maternal grandmother. At sixteen she left Saint Lucia to attend boarding school in England. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park in 2001.

Career

two tall biscuits and two balls of piped butter on a wooden serving board
Biscuits from Compère Lapin in New Orleans, Louisiana

Compton began her career cooking at the Sandals resort in Saint Lucia, then moved to the resort's flagship in Jamaica.

She moved to Daniel in New York City, working for Daniel Boulud.

After moving to Miami, she worked for Norman Van Aken at Van Aken's Philippe Ruiz at Palme d’Or at the Biltmore Hotel. Eventually Compton moved to Casa Casuarina, a private club and boutique hotel in Miami Beach, starting as sous chef and eventually becoming executive chef.

Compton moved to Scarpetta in 2008 to work with Scott Conant opening Scarpetta at Fontainebleau Miami Beach as sous chef and eventually became chef de cuisine.

Compton competed on Season 11 of Top Chef. She was the Top Chef, Season 11 runner up and was voted fan favorite by viewers. She returned as a guest judge on several seasons.

After the Top Chef appearance, Compton and her husband and partner Larry Miller began planning to open a restaurant. Miller suggested a New Orleans site. In June 2015, Compton and Miller opened Compère Lapin. Compère Lapin serves Caribbean-style cuisine and is located in the New Orleans Central Business District. The name is a reference to Br'er Rabbit, a trickster in folktales common to both Saint Lucia and New Orleans.

In March 2018, Compton opened Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans with Miller and a third partner, chef Levi Rains. The restaurant closed in 2025.

Recognition

In 2017, Compton was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine. Compère Lapin was named one of America's 38 Best Restaurants by Eater that same year.

In 2018, Compton won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: South.

Books

Personal life

Compton is married to Larry Miller. The two met while working at Casa Casuarina in Miami.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Witchel, Alex (24 July 2018). "For this 'Top Chef' star, one tropical fruit represents both past and present". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Compton, Nina; Endolyn, Osayi (18 February 2025). "A Culinary Canon: From St. Lucia to Louisiana". Oxford American. No. Spring 2025. Oxford American. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 "The 2018 James Beard Award Winners". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 Burton, Monica (15 March 2018). "'Top Chef' Favorite Nina Compton Debuts Second Restaurant Tonight". Eater. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Martin, Brett (December 2017). "Nina Compton: Hare Apparent in New Orleans". Garden & Gun. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 McNulty, Ian (3 April 2017). "Chef Nina Compton of Compere Lapin named to national list of "Best New Chefs"". The Advocate. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Chef Nina Compton". neworleans.com. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Dixler, Hillary (6 February 2014). "The Winner of Top Chef New Orleans Season 11". Eater.
  9. ↑ Reiher, Andrea (2 May 2025). "'Top Chef' Alum Returns to Show as a Judge, Hasn't Aged a Day in 12 Years". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Price, Todd A. (20 May 2015). "5 facts about Nina Compton's Compere Lapin, opening June 2". NOLA.com.
  11. ↑ "Menu - Compère Lapin". Compère Lapin.
  12. ↑ Helm, Burt (7 February 2019). "Nina Compton's Work Diary: 'You Cannot Show Any Sign of Fear'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. 1 2 Young, Melanie (6 June 2025). "Chef Nina Compton's Culinary Journey from St. Lucia to New Orleans". The Connected Table. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Top Chef Star Nina Compton to Open Her Second Restaurant in New Orleans". Food & Wine. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  15. ↑ D’Addono, Beth (11 June 2025). "After Seven Years, Nina Compton's BABs Closes in the Bywater". Eater. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Food & Wine's Best New Chefs 2017". Food & Wine. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  17. ↑ Addison, Bill (8 November 2017). "The 38 Best Restaurants in America". Eater. Retrieved 27 August 2019.