About Anne Maxfield, the Accidental Locavore was brought up in the early days of Julia Child. But back then, what she really thrived on was the bounty of prepared foods along the lines of “Toss some onion rings-in-a-can on top of boxed macaroni and cheese and add in those cute Vienna franks (also from a can)!” Now there was a great dinner! Why try whole grains and fresh vegetables, when there were cans or frozen foods?Fast forward to a new century: Anne Maxfield’s vision for the Accidental Locavore is to to take the mystery out of farmer’s markets, and show how easy it is to cook with what’s local and fresh. A multi-talented serial entrepreneur, Anne would like to expand her message’s reach through apps, a weekly television show, as well as products targeted to making cooking and eating local and fresh, simple and easy.
Simplifying Fabulous with Anne Maxfield,the Accidental Locavore
Robin Baron: You’re so busy, Anne! Do you have any special organizational tips/tricks? Accidental Locavore: This is going to sound crazy, but I’m always buying spices and coming home to find I already have them. I made an Excel spread sheet listing what I’ve got and where it is. Not only did it get me really organized, I found all the duplicates and took them to my weekend house (not on the sheet…yet). 
RB: What design elements in your home have you personalized? AL: With your help, Robin, my kitchen in the apartment! When we moved in the backsplash was really dark so it was like working in a cave. You helped me pick hand cut subway tiles, and new lighting. Now it’s a pleasure to work in. 
RB: What do you feel most proud about in your home and why? AL: While there’s a lot of white spaces in both houses, there is also a lot of bold color. Surprisingly, my husband has a great eye for color, and picks things that really work. We’ve also collected a lot of art that I never get tired of looking at. As corny as this may sound, I’m proud that we’ve worked hard and been able to afford to pay for two houses. Both of our houses are very casual and comfortable. You can sprawl on all the furniture, and just relax. In my weekend home upstate, there’s a big screen porch and a huge kitchen (which was the big selling point for me). I love being able to be outside in the warm weather, nursing a big glass of something and tending the grill. 
RB: What are your personal indulgences? AL: Great food, especially cheeses and chocolate. I love fresh flowers especially in the spring, lilacs, peonies in big bunches. 
RB: Let’s talk about your specialty now…food! Are there certain dishes that you prepare in your kitchen that are your specialties? AL: I love to experiment with food and I’m not afraid to test out ideas on anyone. However, my go-to dishes when my husband is in a not-so-good mood are pasta puttanesca and albondigas. They work even better than a single malt scotch for cheering him up. > photos courtesy of the Accidental Locavore