Finding Luxury in a Chestnut

Why elevated experiences are not always what you think.

In the winter of 2022, I found myself boarding a bus with my friends in a small Swiss village bound for the Alps. The streets were quiet as the sun had only just risen, and those few awake with us were bundled in their thickest coats and scarves. Our crew shuffled into the back, our skiing gear stowed in a cabin under our seats, and the windows fogged up from the heat of our bodies. As we settled in and stripped off our layers for the drive, one member of our party suddenly dashed out of the bus without a word. Only moments later, she reentered with a large paper bag.

“Just a little treat to get your day started!” She exclaimed.

I opened the bag and steam poured out. The most beautiful handful of chestnuts laid inside, their shells crispy and starting to peel back from the hatch cut. A little gasp of excitement escaped me. Roasted chestnuts! I almost didn’t believe that this delicacy existed and thought of them only in Christmas songs and tales.

I peeked out the window and only then noticed the cart where my friend had made her purchase. This cart, known as a Marroni, was set up in the center of the transportation hub of the village and would be the most popular vendor in the area through the end of the winter season. The chestnuts were roasted in a large pot over a fire, tossed frequently over a period of 10 minutes. In the evening, they would also sell mulled wine to pair with their sweet treat.

And that is exactly what roasted chestnuts are- a sweet bite meant to warm your hands, bellies, and hearts as the world turns cold.

We proceeded to peel back the layers which, for someone with a habit of needing to always do something with my hands, was gratifying. The edible part of the nut looks almost like a small… well… brain (stay with me). The taste was the perfect amount of sweetness to nuttiness, and with the first bite I was reminded of a white sweet potato. It really was the perfect start to my day.

As Christmas season approaches once again, I couldn’t help but to recall that moment and think of it as a highlight from my Switzerland journey; something that didn’t seem real came to life in my hands and provided a joy that I hadn’t really ever thought possible. I have since brought that experience home with me and now roast chestnuts over a fire during the holidays, sharing that joy with my friends and family.

I strive to find those simple yet decadent moments throughout all of my travels. Luxury is the way that a moment makes you feel, not a price tag. One doesn’t necessarily need to score a reservation at a Michelin starred restaurant or spend a few hundred dollars on a bottle of wine to experience the best that the region has to offer. Luxury can mean a private dinner in the house of a local nonna where she teaches you how to fold pasta, or a car service where your driver stops to point out is secret view points from childhood; it can mean strolling through the snowy villages of Germany with a hot cup of Glühwein, or listening to a concert under the stars. A well put together trip is one filled with small moments that you didn’t know you needed until it happens.

I challenge you to find your chestnut moment the next time you visit a new region or country. Find the cozy corner in the quiet restaurant where the wooden chairs are all uniquely shaped and order fondue to pair with your Chasselas, or lace up your ice skates in the romantic Rathauspark of Vienna while carolers sing in the background. Make sure to pause and look around- poets and painters and photographers alike have stood in your shoes and in one way or another captured that moment. So recognize what makes it special, peel back the freshly roasted shell, and take a bite.

-Keely Rosenthal, Experience Ambassador

A little tidbit: The first chestnut one finds every season is a talisman of luck, as long as it is carried in one’s left pocket.

Find your luxurious moment with one of our upcoming curated journeys, and don’t scroll past the 2026 and 2027 Christmas Market trips!

“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

- Ursula K. Le Guin