Hello! Welcome to dontmissmyplate.

Thank you for visiting my website! I'm Maxine—a food blogger, home cook, travel enthusiast, and all-around lover of food and culture. In other words, I’m passionate about fusion cuisine—a style of cooking that blends ingredients and techniques from different countries, regions, and cultures.

My approach is shaped by both Southern African and American influences, reflecting my life experiences and making my recipes diverse and dynamic. I also love traveling and sharing my food adventures with you, from what I ate to where to eat, while discovering new flavors and techniques along the way.

I hope you find this website helpful and inspiring. Whether you're looking for something familiar or eager to try something new, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy exploring, and happy cooking!

The Conche - Leeburg, Virginia

The Conche - Leeburg, Virginia

dontmissmyplate

Conche celebrates chocolate in a way I haven't experienced before, and I love chocolate! With cocoa infused into pretty much everything on the menu. From a conching machine to a chocolate display to an offering of cocoa shots, it is quite the experience. They also include an element of performance art with some of the desserts, so it's great for groups and special events like birthdays. I would recommend getting the bacon mac and cheese for an appetizer, lamb flatbread with a Moroccan flare, and for dessert, if you don't get the flaming ball of chocolate or dessert meatballs; try any of the chocolates up front. My favorite was rosemary caramel. Then for a drink, just ask for a mustache!

Kaliwa - Southwest, DC

Kaliwa - Southwest, DC
Rustico - Ballston, VA

Rustico - Ballston, VA
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