Fresh chestnuts are available from September to February. (Here on Vancouver Island). These sweet nuts can be pureed, candied, roasted or boiled and used in unique desserts or side dishes. World famous 'marron glaces' are chestnuts preserved in sweet syrup. The classic chestnut dessert called Mont Blanc is made by flavoring pureed chestnuts with sugar and vanilla. The puree is riced, formed into a mountain on a flat plate, and then topped with a snow cap of creme Chantilly to resemble Mont Blanc, the French Alp peak. Alas, the chestnut trees that line my street produce inedible horse chestnuts. Only one or two streets in Victoria have trees that bear edible chestnuts. I often fantasize , while I'm raking , raking, raking that if our trees bore edible nuts, my neighbors and I would all be rich from operating roasted chestnut carts, and a magnificent aroma would fill the neighborhood all through the fall.