Marina's Top Drawer
Crassostrea gigas
Deepwater suspended-tray oyster from Cortes Island, BC. Exceptionally clean and slightly sweet with subtle brininess. Features a distinctive frilly, black-and-purple shell with delicate, refined flavor.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Clean, refreshing, subtly sweet
Expert Notes
Marina's Top Drawer oysters are deepwater, suspended-tray cultivated gems from Cortes Island, BC. These Pacific oysters showcase an exceptionally clean taste with just a whisper of sweetness and subtle brininess. Their distinctive frilly, black-and-purple shells house delicate meat that delivers a refined, accessible flavor profile perfect for those seeking elegance over intensity. The deepwater cultivation and suspended-tray method produce oysters with remarkable clarity of flavor. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea gigas
- Native to
- Japan
- Grown in
- Cortes Island, British Columbia
- Size
- Medium (2.5-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Black and purple with frilly edges
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
What Experts Say
Across 9 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: fruity, silky, smooth, plump, fatty
"This was my first taste of marina oysters and I loved it! The meat was soft and silky. It tasted very light, fresh with a very subtle hint of fruity sweetness."
softsilkylightfreshfruity
"My favorite West coast oyster! Very clean tasting and just so slightly sweet."
cleansweet
"I am not unfamiliar with Marina's Top Drawer oysters, they were great last time I tried them and therefore picked them again this time. The shell breaks apart rather easily and therefore is a very challenging oyster to shuck."
"Small, clean, and slightly sweet Pacific oyster from Cortes Island, BC. It has a firm texture. In this match the strong west coast oyster flavour profile brought out more fruit character in the wine."
cleansweetfirm
"Marina's Top Drawer from Cortes Island had a plump fatty flesh and pleasant briny finish."
plumpfattybriny
"Gold in color with a frilly shell. Sweet and smooth."
sweetsmooth
About the Farm
Outlandish Shellfish Guild
Hand harvests oysters from Cortes Island, BC using suspended tray cultivation methods in deep water.
- Cultivation Method
- suspended culture
History & Background
Marina's Top Drawer is a popular BC oyster featured at high-end restaurants and oyster bars across Canada, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto. It has been served at notable establishments like Blue Water Cafe and Rodney's Oyster House.
Did You Know?
- Named for its 'top drawer' quality, referring to premium classification
- The shell is described as gold in color with distinctive frilly edges and black-and-purple coloring
- Pairs exceptionally well with sparkling wines and crisp whites according to multiple wine pairing events
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 9 sources.
- Blue Water Cafe: Succulent Scallops, Silky Toro and a Worm — munchkie's munchies
- Marina's Top Drawer Oyster — Oysterater
- The Great Canadian Oyster and VQA Ontario Wine Pairing — WineAlign
- Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar- Vancouver, BC Canada — TOMOSTYLE
- Cocktails & Oysters — Swallow Tail Supper Club
- Tray Oysters — West Pacific Seafoods
- Oysters, Toronto Style — Pleasant Life Style
- Meet the Grower - Rodney's Oyster House — Instagram
- OysterFinder — The Oyster Guide
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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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