What kind of chestnuts were roasted on an open fire? And where could I buy them?

Answer 1

WHOLE chestnuts. buy them at the grocery store.

Answer 2

For some people I guess it is funny to recommend something dangerous like eating Horse Chestnuts. This is irresponsible and if it results in harm can be criminal.
Chestnuts are usually available at grocery stores this time of year. The advice to cut the shell is correct.

Answer 3

They are the horse chestnuts, from the chestnut tree. You can buy them in most supermarkets at this time of year especially. Certainly you can find them at an Italian market/produce store.
If you are going to buy them to cook/roast yourself either on an open fire or in the oven, please remember to cut the fat end with a sharp knife in an X and take a little off the small pointed end. Otherwise, steam will build up & they will explode, not only very dangerous but extremely messy.

Answer 4

The type used for roast is as some have said the whole "english" chestnut, most are grown in Italy, Korea or China now, they have a flat side and as one person said you make a small slit in them place, them in a pan and roast them in a hot oven 375-400 for 10 -15 minutes let tem cool a bit and then crack the shells. You also can boil them the same way.

The one lady said something about marron glacee, those are pre cooked french chestnuts done in syrup for decoration on a Buche de Noel, a christmas log cake, they can come whole, in syrup or in paste for, you can eat them with a little salt or even sugar, chop them into your turkey stuffing, mashed them into your sweet potatos, or with a bit of bacon chopped chestnuts add them to green beans, brussel sprouts ( I saw Nigella steal this one from me), even carrots.

Mashed and sweetened in to cookie filling, christmas pudding, as a garnish on the Buche de Noel or eat a sweet after themal, these are the candied, glazed or preserved one I speak of.

Answer 5

They are Sweet Chestnuts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Chestnut

http://www.oregonchestnuts.com/

Don't make the mistake of trying to roast and eat horse chestnuts--they are toxic:

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/chestnut.htm

Answer 6

Check out these answers carefully if you are going to use home grown chestnuts.

Answer 7

You can buy them at the grocery store, in the produce section.

Answer 8

i bought them from my local grocery under the french name "marrons glacés"