Nina Compton

Chef

Nina Compton’s story is one of serendipity and connectivity. From the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia to England and Jamaica, New York to Miami, she’s followed her dream and honed her culinary chops alongside some of the world’s most renowned chefs. It was her stint on Top Chef where she found her passion for New Orleans. Nina seized an opportunity to move to the Big Easy and open her first restaurant, Compère Lapin. She quickly realized New Orleans was where she needed to be. Nina has since been named Food & Wine’s Best New Chef 2017, secured a James Beard Award in 2018, and is the official culinary ambassador to the her native St. Lucia (Nina’s father was a prime minister of St. Lucia and helped lead the country to independence from England). As they say, laissez les bon temps rouler!

She grew up cooking by her grandmother’s side and knew she wanted to make it her life’s work. After graduating culinary school in New York, she worked for acclaimed chefs Daniel Boulud, Norman Van Aken, Philippe Ruiz and Scott Conant. Everywhere she’s been, she’s left a lasting impression of fun, positivity and rave reviews.