Nina Compton

Nina Compton
Born1978 or 1979 (age 46–47)[1]
EducationThe Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park
Culinary career
Current restaurant
Television show
Award won

Nina Compton is a Saint Lucian-American chef and restaurateur in New Orleans, Louisiana.[2] In 2018 she won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: South.[3]

Early life and education

Compton was born in Saint Lucia and grew up in the island's Moulin à Vent area.[2][4] 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.[1][2][5] She grew up cooking with her English maternal grandmother.[2] At sixteen she left Saint Lucia to attend boarding school in England.[5] She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park in 2001.[6][1]

Career

Compton began her career cooking at the Sandals resort in Saint Lucia, then moved to the resort's flagship in Jamaica.[1]

She moved to Daniel in New York City, working for Daniel Boulud.[6]

After moving to Miami, she worked for Norman Van Aken at Van Aken's Philippe Ruiz at Palme d’Or at the Biltmore Hotel.[2][5] Eventually Compton moved to Casa Casuarina, a private club and boutique hotel in Miami Beach, starting as sous chef and eventually becoming executive chef.[7]

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.[5]

Compton competed on Season 11 of Top Chef.[2] She was the Top Chef, Season 11 runner up and was voted fan favorite by viewers.[8][1] She returned as a guest judge on several seasons.[9]

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.[5] In June 2015, Compton and Miller opened Compère Lapin.[10] Compère Lapin serves Caribbean-style cuisine and is located in the New Orleans Central Business District.[11][12] The name is a reference to Br'er Rabbit, a trickster in folktales common to both Saint Lucia and New Orleans.[5][13]

In March 2018, Compton opened Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans with Miller and a third partner, chef Levi Rains.[4][14] The restaurant closed in 2025.[15]

Recognition

In 2017, Compton was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine.[16] Compère Lapin was named one of America's 38 Best Restaurants by Eater that same year.[17]

In 2018, Compton won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: South.[3]

Books

  • Kwéyòl/Creole: recipes, stories, and tings from a St. Lucian chef's journey. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers. 2025. ISBN 978-0-593-57897-1. with Osayi Endolyn[13]

Personal life

Compton is married to Larry Miller. The two met while working at Casa Casuarina in Miami.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ a b "The 2018 James Beard Award Winners". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b Burton, Monica (15 March 2018). "'Top Chef' Favorite Nina Compton Debuts Second Restaurant Tonight". Eater. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Martin, Brett (December 2017). "Nina Compton: Hare Apparent in New Orleans". Garden & Gun. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.
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