There is something about the fall that makes it so special. Maybe it’s the changing colors or the crisp air that helps us bid summer goodbye and at the same time prepares us for the winter that’s to come.
It’s also prime time for harvesting all of the incredible bounties the earth offers up during this season. We look forward to the month of October because the lush wooded areas of Calabria explode with chestnuts and the harvest begins.
Chestnus (“castagne” in Italian) can be enjoyed in so many different ways but the all-time favorite way for most Italians would have to be caldarroste.
Caldarroste means “roasted chestnuts” and their aroma is one of the quintessential signs that Fall has arrived. You can’t get more into the cozy fall spirit than sitting by an open fire with the smell of roasting chestnuts filling the air around you. Don’t have a fireplace? No worries if you are in Italy! You can get your hands on freshly roasted chestnuts from the local street vendor.
Image credits: Potito M. Petrone, Alesssandro
