About

Hi, I'm Maxine, the face behind Dontmissmyplate.

I'm a home cook with a deep love for food, travel, and the stories that live inside a meal. Fusion cooking sits at the heart of my approach. It shapes how I build flavor, layer techniques, and keep home cooking both exciting and approachable.

How did this all begin?

It began in Zimbabwe, watching the women in my family cook with quiet confidence. My mum, my sister, my aunt, my dad's sister in particular, were my first teachers, not through formal instruction but through presence. The rhythm of the kitchen, the smell of something slow-cooking. That stayed with me.

On weekends I made breakfast for my late dad. We baked cakes, my mom and I, for special occasions, and at one point I tried selling them to fund my Nokia phone obsession. My dad quickly redirected that entrepreneurial energy toward school, and that focus eventually brought me to America. New York was my entry point into everything.

From New York to the DMV

Living between two worlds has been one of the most formative parts of my food journey. New York cracked the world open for me. Every cuisine, every culture, every ingredient within reach. The DMV deepened it, introducing me to a food community I didn't know I was looking for, from recipe developers to critics to storytellers who reminded me there was space for someone like me.

Now based in Frederick, Maryland, a town with genuine culinary potential and a food scene quietly finding its voice, I'm still adding chapters.

Before any of this, I was quietly becoming fascinated by food through shows like Chopped, MasterChef, and Iron Chef. It wasn't until university, when I had no meal plan and a roommate who made nearly everything from scratch, that cooking transformed from obligation into art. What started as necessity became exploration.

Since 2017

I've immersed myself in the food world through cooking demos, working in local restaurants, personal chef opportunities, food blogging, and marketing partnerships with restaurants, agencies, and food brands. Each chapter has strengthened my commitment to creating recipes that are bold in flavor yet realistic for everyday cooking.

I haven't trained in Michelin-starred kitchens. I have learned through experimenting, repetition, risk, and a deep love of flavor, and I'm still figuring it out every time I step in. Join the ride.

Why "Dontmissmyplate"?

The name carries more than one meaning. Don't let a plate go without something memorable on it. And don't miss my plate, because what I'm serving is worth showing up for. Whether it's your kitchen or mine, the goal is always the same. Make it worth savoring.