Celebrate Jamaica this April with Compère Lapin & Jazz Fest
On April 1, and for one night only, Compère
Lapin is bringing the best of Jamaica to its dining room. Compère Lapin's own
Chef Nina Compton and Kingston-born Andre Fowles will be collaborating on a four-course
"Taste of Jamaica" dinner at 7 p.m.
Compère Lapin is a French and Caribbean restaurant opened by Chef Nina Compton. The Saint Lucian native fell in love with New Orleans while filming Top Chef. Unable to stay away, she returned in 2015 and opened shop in the Old NO. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. Since then, Compère Lapin has gone on to win numerous awards including a James Beard in 2018.
Much like Fowles' recipes, and as fans of Compère Lapin will recognize, the coursed menu for the "Taste of Jamaica" dinner is bold, dynamic, and delicious, featuring dishes such as curried goat patties and oxtail and dumplings.
This menu was created in celebration of Andre Fowles' debut cookbook My Jamaican Table, which released March 10, 2026. It's the first major Jamaican cookbook of its kind and features some of the most iconic regional dishes with the Chopped-champion's elegant touch. You can get your copy here.
Jazz Fest
"Taste of Jamaica" comes at a serendipitous moment. This
year, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be showcasing the
vibrant music of Jamaican at their Cultural Exchange Pavilion. The showcase is
titled "One Love Jamaica" and promotes solidarity with the Jamaican people in the
wake of Hurricane Melissa, a devastating natural disaster from the fall of 2025.
This years' lineup includes Ziggy and Stephen Marley, Sean Paul, Protoje, Original Koffee, Lutan Fyah, and Lila Iké. Also performing is jazz pianist Monty Alexander, the Skatalites, and the gospel vocalist Kevin Downsell, to name a few.
Bookend your April with a celebration of Jamaican culture and people. Make your reservations for Compère Lapin on April 1 and taste the vivacious flavor of the island from renowned chefs. While at Jazz fest this year, stop by the Cultural Exchange Pavilion and listen to the iconic sounds of Jamaica.
More Than Just Food & Music
Hurricane Melissa, making landfall in October 2025, was the
strongest recorded hurricane ever to strike Jamaica and has amounted to
great loss. For those who can, you can find ways to directly uplift the communities
affected by this disaster here.
