Maxine Chikumbo

Cooking allows me to contribute to a thriving community of home cooks, entrepreneurs, and food lovers who share a passion for quality food experiences. It’s how I express my appreciation of global flavours and help others make informed food choices—from where to eat to crafting their next homemade meal. It lets me support local businesses, celebrate chefs, and explore both the vast world of American cuisine and my African heritage. It is a creative outlet and constant motivation!

My all-time favorite dish to make is whole grilled fish with chakalaka, a spicy vegetable relish with baked beans, cabbage and bold spices. Fish wasn’t always accessible growing up, but I love it—especially bream. Many find whole fish intimidating, but it’s easy to make at home. It’s one of my signature dishes because I love experimenting with it. Nutritious yet comforting, fish is also a perfect canvas for fusion cooking.

With $25,000, I would invest in my culinary growth and community impact. I would pursue a relevant certification or course to refine my technical skills and deepen my knowledge. Additionally, I would set aside seed money to fund my dream cookbook, a project I’ve been working on for years and consider a key contribution to the world of comfort food and fusion cuisine. This investment would help me complete the project while connecting with fellow food lovers and home cooks.