Every year I anxiously await Chestnuts season. This year through Facebook I realized I was not alone. The hunt for chestnuts on Facebook the past few weeks has become a popular post in the daily news feed, and I too had been secretly on the hunt. Last week after combing the aisle on my third trip to the grocery store, I asked the produce manager, when they would be receiving a shipment of chestnuts. He chuckled, and said, “I wish I knew, that has been the question of the week around here, and everyone has been asking for them.” After apologizing for not having them, he kindly shared a little inside information with me about this years chestnut crop and the rumors swirling around the produce world about this years chestnut crops not yeilding a plentiful harvest this year. I not sure why that is, and maybe someone can share why, but I though I pass the info along to all those who are also wondering why they are so hard to find this season. I was lucky to find some locally grown Chestnuts at Applenton Farms the other day. I felt like I had hit the jackpot! They were petti in size and absolutely scrumptious ! I plan to keep a stash on hand in my “spezza” room for my family to enjoy this holiday season and I encourage you to do the same. I know my family would go nuts without their roasted chestnuts on the holiday table! My Grandmother Felicia’s recipe for Roasted Chestnuts, “Castagni Arrustui,” is in my cookbook “Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen with Sista Felicia Harvest” on page 202.
Roasted Chestnuts make a delicious fall snack!
Good Morning Gloucester 
Thank you Felicia for the tip on where to find fresh local chestnuts!!
The arrival of the chestnut blight from Asia has wiped out nearly all the gorgeous chestnut trees, which were formerly the cornerstone tree species of the eastern North American forests.
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Thank you Kim…I had a feeling you might know the answer to that question…thank you for sharing!
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Kim,
How bad did this hit Cape Ann and the state? I remember them everywhere in the 60’s, there was a very big one in a field on Munsey Ln between – Washington Street and Langsford street close to old lanes school, before tore down…Used to get shopping bags full of them…Squirrels were busy also stocking up…We to put them along the fence for the squirrels living in tree’s behind our house or along high street they were very mobile.
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Thanks. Roasted chestnuts are such a treat.
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Forgot these look great – and go with the time of year a ways off but Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Christmas song. They have been out in the woods this way rounding them up already. 🙂
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