'spaw - I am disappointed in you! Roasted chestnuts are fantastic! I wonder is perhaps the vendor was roasting buckeyes? (Which do taste disgusting) but a roasted chestnut is fantastic. and they make excellent hand-warmers as well!

Properly roasted a chestnut is soft with just a little "chew" to it, the flavour is nutty but not overwhelming - sort of halfway between walnut and mushroom.