The woman behind Coconut Grove's beloved Last Carrot has launched a catering company, keeping one of the Grove's most recognizable food figures in the neighborhood's dining scene five months after her restaurant's 50-year run ended.

Erin Compton, who ran The Last Carrot on Grand Avenue for 25 years, is now operating Coconut Grove Catering, a boutique outfit offering private event catering, corporate gatherings, and weekly meal plans across South Florida, according to the company's website. The site references The Last Carrot directly and emphasizes fresh, health-forward food.

Coconut Grove Magazine profiled Compton on Tuesday, July 28, as part of its "People of the Grove" series, describing her new venture as carrying forward the same heart that defined The Last Carrot in every meal she prepares.

The Last Carrot's final chapter

The Last Carrot closed Saturday, February 7, after more than 50 years serving fresh juices and sandwiches to the Grove community. Miami New Times reported the closure shocked regulars. Long-time patron Marshall Steingold was among those who embraced Compton in the restaurant's final days, according to Coconut Grove Spotlight.

The building is gone.

The 1981 structure at the corner of Grand Avenue and Matilda Street was demolished around Saturday, July 11, clearing the 1.7-acre site for Ziggurat, a five-story mixed-use project developed by Allen Morris Company. The project will include 100,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and 19 residences.

What Compton is offering now

Coconut Grove Catering positions itself as a boutique operation with chef-driven menus for events of varying sizes. On the company's about page, Compton describes the goal as creating gatherings that foster connection and community, language that tracks closely with the neighborhood-first ethos she built at The Last Carrot over two and a half decades.

Residents interested in booking can visit coconutgrovecatering.com or find the company on Instagram at @coconutgrovecatering.