Fate brought Nina Compton to New Orleans, and a smart business head and dedicated community kept her there. After a stellar turn on Top Chef, the St. Lucia-born, Miami-based chef had her pick of offers all over the country, but something about the Big Easy drew her back. Since opening the lauded Compere Lapin in the Old 77 Hotel and Bywater American Bistro in the eponymous NOLA neighborhood, Compton's cuisine, along with her husband Larry Miller's front-of-house hospitality has drawn together a local community of chefs and food fanatics in a deeply warm and meaningful way. Compton—who was sworn in as a United States citizen just this week—opened up about how she found her way home, and why she's unafraid to put her business at risk to do what's right.

Follow Nina: @ninacompton

www.comperelapin.com

www.bywateramericanbistro.com

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