Roasted Chestnut carts

We roamed around downtown trying to find these without fail — for those looking, 5^th ave between the park and, say, 50^th st is full of these vendors.

The chestnuts themselves can be hit and miss, but the experience — ahhh. I know, I’m a silly out-​of-​towner, but I never get to NY right before the holidays and did so this year; how fun to forget it’s not cool to do it and spend a few minutes gawking at the tree at Rockefeller Center on a shivery cold night and to dip your cold hand into a warm, brown paper sack of chestnuts. When they’re good, it’s a perfect moment; when they’re not, it’s still pretty good.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire! You can smell this snack on every corner in midtown Manhatten around Christmas time. I love the smell of them and they make me want to sing about Chestnuts! Wonderful! They are the ultimate New York tourist experience along with ice skating in Central Park, romantic walks around Rockefellar Center. I remember these babies from my childhood as well as adult life. The taste is not quite as good as the smell, roasty chestnuts are sometimes undercooked and they are chewy. Also opening them is a bit of work. However, they are still a very enjoyable treat. Eat them and feel like a kid once more.

Thanks Arlene for your review! I totally love chestnuts because of course my first outdoor roasted chestnut was in Japan… it was that Tenshin Amaguri type… sweet, easy to peel. BETTER than candy yumminess. The ones in New York were not as sweet, but remniscent (sp?) of cold bites of Autumnal Winter reminders.
The ones in Paris were wrapped in a cone of newspaper, bought by St. Germaine and were like the ones in New York.
Thank you Arlene, for the memories!

Mighty tasty and satisfying little things. Standing under a shelter between buildings I would guard them like a squirrel with it’s nuts. Waiting for them to cool. Eat only when still hot, and the colder the weather the better. Best when snowing. The shells peel off easily, making it a great snack in-​between museums, shopping or whatever you’re doing here. For 3 bucks, it’s the best deal in town.