Roast Chestnuts?

[Eutrino]

Does anyone remember coming out of the cinema or theatre and getting in line at a roast chestnut cart? Or, better yet, does anyone have a period picture of one? I particularly recall one bloke whose 'patch' was variable, along Colemore Row and Steelhouse Lane. He always knew what was showing where and when the evening performances turned out and put himself at the best spot to get the most foot traffic! We would often buy a bag or two to eat at the bus stop while waiting for the #11 to take us home. Timing was everything and the later in the evening it was the more 'well done' (or overdone!) were the nuts. I always enjoyed them, if they weren't too old, but the aroma wafting down the street is the memory that has stuck with me! He'd probably be shut down by the health department or safety nazis these days!

 

[fatfingers]

Does anyone remember coming out of the cinema or theatre and getting in line at a roast chestnut cart? Or, better yet, does anyone have a period picture of one? I particularly recall one bloke whose 'patch' was variable, along Colemore Row and Steelhouse Lane. He always knew what was showing where and when the evening performances turned out and put himself at the best spot to get the most foot traffic! We would often buy a bag or two to eat at the bus stop while waiting for the #11 to take us home. Timing was everything and the later in the evening it was the more 'well done' (or overdone!) were the nuts. I always enjoyed them, if they weren't too old, but the aroma wafting down the street is the memory that has stuck with me! He'd probably be shut down by the health department or safety nazis these days!

One of the carts is in the Museum and art gallery, or was last summer anyway.

The spuds were great, never liked the chestnuts much. Cant understand why they stopped pushing a cart full of burning coal through town though, ca you ? LOL

There is a pic of one on the forum somewhere, just cant seem to find it.

 

[postie]

Yummy yummy

 

[G G Jean]

Jim was that on the Hot Spuds thread?. I may be getting it mixed up but thanks for posting it. I am going to get Pete to pop some chestnuts in the tray with potatoes like he did last year. MOUTHWATERING. Jean.

 

[Eutrino]

Great pic of the roast spuds. They were always good but, as I wrote previously, it was the unique aroma of the nuts that has stayed with me all these years. Its difficult to be certain but it certainly looks like the 'proprietor' of the barrow in the pic is wearing a collar and tie.........only in England! Love the Saxa salt tub at the ready, ideal for mainlining a little sodium with your snack!!!