Golden Nugget
Crassostrea gigas
A rare tumbled cocktail oyster from Tomales Bay's north shore. Small and deep-cupped with plump ivory meat, delivering high brine that mellows into a rich, buttery finish with hints of melon and cucumber.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Rich, buttery finish with hints of melon and cucumber
Expert Notes
Golden Nugget oysters are cocktail-sized gems from Tomales Bay, tumbled with every tide to create their signature deep cup and plump, ivory flesh. The dynamic tumbling system produces a crisp, firm texture with a notably large adductor muscle. These rare oysters begin with the intense brine of the Tomales Bay estuary and mellow into a luxurious, buttery finish accented by delicate notes of honeydew melon and cucumber—a Kumamoto-like experience in a tumbled Pacific oyster. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea gigas
- Native to
- Japan
- Grown in
- Tomales Bay, California, North shore of Millerton Point, TBOC's cove
- Size
- Small (2-2.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- White to cream
- Meat Color
- Ivory
What Experts Say
Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: white asparagus, razor clam, cucumber
"It's like a Shigoku or a Kusshi, but with a richer flavor than either, like white asparagus in butter sauce, even a bit of razor clam."
richbutterywhite asparagusrazor clam
"Look for TBOC's new Golden Nugget oysters, one of the richest-tasting oysters in the country."
rich
"The flavor profile of Golden Nugget oysters starts with the brine of the Tomales Bay estuary and mellows into a rich, buttery finish with hints of melon and cucumber."
brinybutterymeloncucumberrich
"It is ultra manicured from being 'tide-tumbled.' This toughens up the Oyster, making it shed brittle shell, strengthen its adductor muscle, and form a deep cup with rich, plump flesh."
richplump
"Golden Nuggets are small, 2 – 2½" in size."
small
"The special thing about golden nuggets is the location where they're grown. We grow 'em down here in the southern end of our farm so they're exposed to more green algae. As they're suspended, they're being rocked constantly by the wind waves, that knocks the brim of the shell, creating a more round, deep cup shape. And inside, when you open the oyster, the meat is really plump."
plumpdeep-cupped
About the Farm
Tomales Bay Oyster Company
Est. 1909California's oldest continuously-run shellfish farm in Tomales Bay, operating since 1909. The Golden Nugget variety was developed by Drew Alden (manager from 1989-2009), representing three years of labor and a pioneering tumbling technique.
- Cultivation Method
- suspended culture
History & Background
The Golden Nugget was developed by Drew Alden, who managed Tomales Bay Oyster Company from 1989 to 2009. It was the fruit of three years of labor, with the first commercial harvest occurring around 2011. The tumbling technique used is unique - oysters are placed in giant bags attached to floats and tumbled with every tide, creating a less labor-intensive process than traditional rock tumbling methods.
The name 'Golden Nugget' reflects both the prized nature of these rare oysters and their golden, buttery finish. The oyster has become a sought-after variety exclusive to Tomales Bay Oyster Company, attracting visitors from around the world to picnic on the shore.
Did You Know?
- The oyster can only be found at Tomales Bay Oyster Company - it's not available anywhere else
- Golden Nuggets are grown in the southern end of TBOC's farm where they're exposed to more green algae
- The tumbling process happens with every tide automatically, making it less labor-intensive than traditional tumbling methods used for Kusshi or Shigoku oysters
- Tomales Bay once had a railroad running through the picnic area - farmers would harvest oysters, put them on trains, and ship them to Sausalito
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 8 sources.
- Oyster Trail #1: Tomales Bay — The Oyster Guide
- Tomales Bay - California — The Oyster Guide
- Golden Nugget Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — Oyster Encyclopedia
- How To Open an Oyster and TBOC's Golden Nugget — SF Oyster Nerd
- Tomales Bay Oyster Company: Farm-to-Table Freshness — Epicurious
- History - Tomales Bay Oyster Company — Tomales Bay Oyster Company
- Oyster List - Blue Point Seafood — Blue Point Seafood
- Live Oysters Description Guide — Fortune Fish Co
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Learn More
The Big Five: A Complete Guide to Commercial Oyster Species
Comprehensive guide to C. virginica (Atlantic), C. gigas (Pacific), C. sikamea (Kumamoto), O. lurida (Olympia), and O. edulis (European Flat)
Read article → Biology & SpeciesThe Pacific Oyster (C. gigas): Cream, Cucumber, and the Japanese Legacy
Understanding the world's most cultivated oyster - from Japanese origins to West Coast dominance
Read article → Merroir & EnvironmentWhat is Merroir? The Science of How Environment Shapes Oyster Flavor
Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
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