Nina Compton facts for kids

Nina Compton is a famous chef from Saint Lucia. She has won a special award called the James Beard award. Today, she lives and works in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States.

Nina's Journey to Becoming a Chef

Biscuits from Compère Lapin in New Orleans, Louisiana

Nina Compton studied cooking at a well-known school. It was called the The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. After she finished school, she started working in New York City. She learned a lot from a very famous chef named Daniel Boulud.

Later, Nina moved to Miami. There, she worked at other great restaurants. She kept learning new cooking skills. She even became the head chef at a private club and hotel called Casa Casuarina. This showed how much she had grown as a chef!

In 2008, Nina helped open a newly renovated hotel. It was the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. She worked with another great chef, Scott Conant. Nina started as a Sous Chef. This means she was a main assistant to the head chef. Soon, she became the Chef de Cuisine. This is a very important role in a kitchen.

Competing on Top Chef

Nina Compton became even more famous when she appeared on TV. She was on Season 11 of the show Top Chef. This show is a cooking competition. Nina did very well! She was the runner-up, meaning she came in second place. The viewers also voted her their "fan favorite." This showed how much people liked her and her cooking.

Opening Her Own Restaurants

After Top Chef, Nina decided to open her own restaurant. In June 2015, she opened Compère Lapin in New Orleans. This restaurant serves delicious food inspired by the Caribbean. It is located in the busy New Orleans Central Business District.

In March 2018, Nina opened another restaurant. It is called Bywater American Bistro. She opened it with her husband, Larry Miller, and another chef, Levi Rains.

Awards and Recognition

Nina Compton has won many important awards for her cooking.

• In 2017, Food & Wine magazine named her "Best New Chef." This is a big honor!
• Also in 2017, her restaurant, Compère Lapin, was recognized. It was named one of America's 38 Best Restaurants by Eater.
• In 2018, Nina won a very special award. It was the James Beard Foundation award for "Best Chef: South." This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs!

About Nina's Family

Nina Compton is married to Larry Miller. Her father was Sir John George Melvin Compton. He was a very important person in Saint Lucia. He served as the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia three times. This means he was the leader of the country.