Gold Rush Pasty Co.

A handheld pastry stuffed with all things delicious.

Pasty (pr. Pass-tee) is a California style variation of the original Cornish Pasty.

Wholesome, Hearty, Fresh and truly Historic California food.

On January 24th 1848 in the foothills near Sacramento California, a saw mill foreman noticed a flicker at John Sutter’s Lumber Mill on the American River. That fateful day sparked the Gold Rush and the evolution of the Pasty you are enjoying today.

The original gold discoverers swore each other to secrecy hoping to exploit their find. But, some things just can’t stay quiet. ”Gold, Gold, Gold from the American River”, screamed a publisher on the streets of San Francisco. The news spread like wildfire. As it did, the residents from San Francisco to Sacramento dropped their current life pursuits to “head for the hills”. Each seeking to claim their piece of the Golden American Dream. Farms were left unwatched and the merchants closed their stores. This left a sizable void for basic services in a region which quickly became known as the “Mother Lode”.

At the time of gold discovery in California, San Francisco and Sacramento had a combined population of nearly 350 people. But it wasn’t long before the world began to take notice, the waves of Gold speculators began arriving by all transportation available; wagon, boat, horseback and even foot. The infrastructures of Sacramento and San Francisco were already abandoned and completely unable to support these additional waves of gold speculators. Basic subsistence items were extremely scarce and prices were driven to levels never seen before in this region or any other. There are written accounts in 1848, of a lady literally selling the blossoms on her peach tree. She took full deposit and payment on her un-grown and unharvested peaches each for $1. That would be the rough equivalent of paying nearly $30 today.

In the 2 short years from gold discovery in 1848 to 1850, the population had surged to an estimated 110,000, and by 1852 reached over 200,000. Food supply was beyond critical. Seeing the overwhemling demand and prices being paid for basic services and food, a different type of speculator was born … the entrepreneur. Very quickly, new farms were tilled and planted, livestock was ordered from far away farms, and new merchants were born. These merchants specialized in all things from miners tools, clothing, bags, even miners food, and of course The Pasty.

Local area farmers strategized about planting, attempting to keep up with demand. They concluded it was wisest to plant only the most hearty of crops that had flexible harvesting schedules and leanent storage requirements. The list included wheat, potatoes and carrots. Additionally, livestock was a hearty source of year round food, and the supply of cattle and poultry were bolstered in an attempt to meet the surging demand.

These entrepreneurs were quick to set up camps in the regions nearest the gold discoveries. The two most famous were “Hangtown” and “Rough & Ready”. The camps were makeshift and shoddy, but they did supply the miners with a nearby outpost to trade their gold for a scarce amount of food and supplies.

With limited food supply, the vendors became creative with their ingredients. They adapted recipes they already knew, the Pasty Recipe included. Pastys were originally an English food from a south-west county known as Cornwall. This Cornish recipe adapted perfectly with the raw goods available during the Gold Rush Era and quickly became a staple food of its time.

The gold speculators would eat one straight from the oven and wrap several others in layers for their daily expeditions. Because Pastys are thick and hearty, they will keep warm for hours when wrapped in layers.
Next time you have some place to be and want to take something wholesome and delicious with you, eat like a Miner, take a Pasty.