Audio By Carbonatix
Q: In Paris, I had chestnut ice cream a couple of times for dessert. It was fabulous, and I’ve been trying to find it here. Are there any local restaurants that serve chestnut ice cream? If not, do you know where I can find chestnut paste to make my own?
A: Although they’re used extensively in cooking and are sold — roasted — on many European street corners, chestnuts have never been very big in this country. And that’s a shame, because the iron-rich nutmeat is healthful and lower in fat and calories than most other nuts. But in the early 1900s, the American chestnut tree was all but destroyed by blight, and the hybrid that took its place has never been very prolific.
I’m not aware of any local eateries that serve chestnut ice cream. It’s a super-sweet treat, because the chestnut contains a starch that turns to sugar when it’s picked. But the Truffle (2906 East Sixth Avenue, 303-322-7363) sells a chestnut purée that’s been sweetened; it’s $5 for a tube about the size of your average toothpaste container.
