Winner of the 2018 James Beard “Best Chef: South” and semi-finalist for 2023 James Beard “Outstanding Chef,” Nina Compton is Chef/Owner of award-winning restaurant Compère Lapin in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. In March 2023, Compton opened Nina’s Creole Cottage – a fast-casual restaurant in Caesar’s New Orleans’ new celebrity chef food hall. Compton’s first book, Kwéyòl / Creole: Recipes, Stories and Tings from a St. Lucian’s Chef Journey (Penguin Random House), was published in April 2025 and is the story of her thrilling culinary journey from St. Lucia to Jamaica, Miami, and New Orleans. The thoughtful book explores the cuisines and places that have shaped the St. Lucian chef’s unique culinary perspective.
Born and raised in St. Lucia, Nina grew up with the flavors and beauty of the Caribbean. At Compère Lapin, Nina creates robust dishes that meld the flavors of her Caribbean upbringing and love for French and Italian cuisine, while highlighting the Gulf and Louisiana’s beautiful indigenous ingredients.
Since opening in June 2015, Compère Lapin has received critical acclaim including Eater National’s “Best Restaurants in America;” Food & Wine’s “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years;” a rave review in The New York Times; Esquire’s “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade;” Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award, Best U.S. Hotel Bar; and many others.