Wise Woman Wednesdays: Nina Compton

Since today, Wednesday, March 8th, is International Women's Day, it's a particularly important #WiseWomanWednesday for us here at HEALER. Not only do we get to celebrate an incredibly accomplished, visionary woman-- Nina Compton, Executive Chef and Owner of NOLA hotspot Compère Lapin--but we love that she's a local who is indelibly making her mark on the dining scene with her wildly innovative yet historically grounded dishes. We caught up with Nina to ask what she's listening to, what her busy days at the restaurant look like, and what it means to her to be a wise woman.

How were you first drawn to your passion?
[Through] the love for making people smile through food.

What does it mean to you to live creatively & authentically?
Getting the fulfillment of drawing inspiration from everything from seasonality to bounty of the land and sea, but also inspiring people that eat my food and create a memory.

How would you describe your personal aesthetic?
Energetic , passionate and driven 

What’s on your current listening rotation?
Bob Marley, Beyoncé, Steel Pulse, The Meters, and The Alabama Shakes.

What’s one place you can always return to for inspiration?
St. Lucia where I was born-- it always grounds me and I am able to reset. 

What does a typical day in your life look like?
Check emails, check Instragram, read the New York Times, have coffee, go to the restaurant, check coolers, prep until lunch service, reset for dinner service, check out restaurant before closing, and order proteins for next day and organize prep list.

What does the idea of a “wise woman” mean to you? Who represents this for you?
A strong woman that shows no signs of weakness even when we do feel it. Always holding them self in respectful and strong manner.

What icon or totem would you choose to represent you and your life?  
A chef 's knife 

“I feel best when I am surrounded by…”
Music, food and friends.

What wise woman should we interview next?  
Michelle Obama.

Thanks so much to Nina for answering our questions on International Women's Day! If you're aiming to support women-owned businesses today, you can do no better than enjoying a meal at Compère Lapin in NOLA. We'll see you there!