The Main Ingredient - Chestnuts: The Taste of December

We may be able to eat strawberries and asparagus in December, but they will always be a pale shadow of their spring and summertime selves. Thankfully, eating seasonally doesn't have to be about deprivation -- instead, savor the winter delicacies that are not only at their peak, but are also perfectly suited to cold weather, hearty appetites and holiday leisure.

Tightly encased in layers of thorns and shiny, hard shells, chestnuts do not make for instant satisfaction; but the reward is well worth the effort. After all, chestnuts are not only a delicious foodstuff, they are an activity unto themselves. What could be more decadent than an afternoon spent lingering in front of the fire, drinking a bottle of fruity red wine, peeling and nibbling a bowl of chestnuts fresh from the oven?

Whether you dream of a Dickensian Christmas, or an Italian autumn festival, chestnuts are the stuff of cold-weather fantasies and ruminations. (read more)


Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, food, food writing, chestnuts, recipes, roasted chestnuts, roasting chestnuts

Recipe: Chestnut Caramel Pound Cake

Rich with caramel flavor, aroma and color, this moist and dense pound cake is accented with chestnuts. The nuttiness and perfume of the winter nut perfectly complements the deep caramel flavor. Here we use chestnuts in three forms -- sweetened cream, flour and chestnut pieces -- to blissfully savor their buttery sweet, yet savory flavor. Enjoyed solo or with whipped cream, this cake is definitely worthy of the finest festive spread for both Thanksgiving and the Yuletide season.

Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, food, food writing, recipe, chestnut, pound cake, dessert, holiday

Cocktails: Love & Honor

Savor the sublime sweetness of chestnut elevated by the wonderful fresh blooms of Hendricks gin, accented with a touch of traditional falernum syrup and paired with provocative red currants. Love & Honor exudes powerful emotions under a veil of understated composure...

See Damian Sim's inspiration for this recipe here.


Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, food, food writing, recipes, cocktails, chestnuts, red currants

Food Philosophy Video #12: Chestnuts in Bolzano

Food Philosophy Video #12: Chestnuts in Bolzano

Here's a quick bit of nut trivia for you as Chef Mark and I spot some roasted chestnuts on the streets of Bolzano, Italy.

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Food Philosophy is a production of the Culinary Media Network (www.culinarymedianetwork.com).





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