Maxine Sharf
Maxine Sharf shares approachable, family-inspired recipes as Maxi’s Kitchen and is the author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook of the same name.
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Maxine’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Clarkson Potter
Maxi’s KitchenOverview
- Known as
- Maxi’s Kitchen
- Work
- Recipe developer, cooking creator, and cookbook author
- Based in
- Los Angeles, California
- Turning point
- A December 2022 tech-sales layoff led her to focus on cooking full time.
- Book milestone
- Maxi’s Kitchen became a New York Times bestseller in 2026.
Mini bio
A family kitchen.
Maxine grew up in California with Korean, Chinese, Russian, Romanian, and Polish roots. Her mom, Ann, taught her family recipes during a difficult year in middle school. That time together helped make cooking a lasting source of connection.
Starting small.
Before Maxi’s Kitchen became her job, friends responded to Instagram Stories of Maxine cooking with her mom. She eventually filmed a meatball recipe on her phone while living in New York, holding the camera herself without a tripod.
Taking the leap.
After a decade in tech sales, Maxine was laid off in December 2022. She chose to pursue cooking full time, filming three recipes the next day. Her videos gained momentum, and she signed with a manager a few months into the new chapter.
Recipes to return to.
Her work centers on meals home cooks can feel confident making again. Her debut cookbook, published in March 2026, follows the rhythm of a week, moving from quick dinners and one-pan meals to shared bites, longer cooking projects, and brunch.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026Maxi’s Kitchen: Easy Go-To Recipes to Make Again and AgainAuthor · Clarkson Potter
Quotes
My first rule is just start. It doesn’t need to be perfect.Maxine Sharf, Five Rules for the Good Life
In her February 2026 interview, she explained how sharing an imperfect first cooking video helped her begin.
Trivia
- Her dog is named Kimchi.
- Her first recipe video featured meatballs in an Italian sauce.
- Her mom joined her for the 2026 cookbook tour.
- Rice paper dumplings from her kitchen have been recreated by Jessica Alba, Mindy Kaling, and Giada De Laurentiis.
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