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Nina Compton: From Caribbean Flavors to NOLA

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Today I’m talking to Chef Nina Compton, a James Beard award-winning chef based in New Orleans,Louisiana. She’s the owner and creative mind behind Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. You’ll hear about her experience on Season 11 of Top Chef, – Saint Lucian roots

What you’ll learn from Nina Compton
  • Chef Nina Conpton’s  unique and flavorful upbringing in St. Lucia 2:35
  • The sweet scents of a childhood in the Caribbean 3:44
  • The influence of her grandmother in her cooking 5:54
  • Cakes of the Caribbean 7:26
  • Nina Compton’s journey to becoming a chef 8:35
  • Why she went to culinary school 9:26
  • A detour in her plans to get back to the Caribbean 11:50
  • How Nona Compton brings together the flavors of New York, Miami, and the Caribbean 14:36
  • The surprise hit dish that she can’t take off of the menu 15:27
  • Staples that have remained on the menu 16:57
  • The reopening of her neighborhood restaurant 17:56
  • How the menus at her two restaurants differ 21:25
    Practicing the power of restraint 22:28
  • Her strong involvement in the bar program and New Orleans expectations 24:03
  • The less-familiar sources of her Italian wines 25:42
  • How seasonality is reflected in her food 26:51
  • Her experience on Top Chef 28:40
  • The lengthy process of making the cut 31:13
  • A day in the life of a Top Chef contestant 32:26
  • Why she doesn’t want to return to Top Chef as a contestant 35:34
  • The evolution of the New Orleans culinary scene 36:59
  • The sharing nature of local chefs 38:57
  • Origin of the nameCompère Lapin 41:47
  • Her culinary tour of New Orleans 44:03
  • Her simple guilty pleasures 46:04
  • Recent cookbooks to explore 46:57
  • Kitchen pet peeves 48:23
  • The worst trend she’s seeing in the industry 51:42
  • Her advice for working your way up in the business 52:24
  • The chef she would like to collaborate with 53:54
  • Her alternative career if she wasn’t a chef 54:37


    • I’d like to share a potential educational resource, “Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door”, my new book that features dialogues with accomplished culinary leaders from various backgrounds and cultures. It delves into the future of culinary creativity and the hospitality industry, drawing from insights of a restaurant-industry-focused podcast, ‘flavors unknown”. It includes perspectives from renowned chefs and local professionals, making it a valuable resource for those interested in building a career in the culinary industry.

    Get the book here!
    Links to other episodes with the chefs

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from these talented chefs and gain insight into the world of culinary techniques. Check out the links below for more conversations with chefs from New Orleans.

    Conversaion with chef Nathanial Zimet

    Conversation with chef Michael Gulotta

    Listen to my conversation with chef Alex Harrell

    Listen to my conversation with Chef Rebecca Wilcomb

    Links to most downloaded episodes (click on any picture to listen to the episode)

    Chef Sheldon Simeon

    Chef Andy Doubrava

    Chef Chris Kajioka

    Chef Suzanne Goin
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    Chef Nina Compton


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    Compère Lapin


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    Links mentioned in this episode

    Compère Lapin

    Bywater American Bistro (BAB’s)

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