Christiane Jory - The 99 Cent Only Stores Cookbook: Gourmet Recipes at Discount Prices

THE
COOKBOOK Christiane Jory Gourmet Recipes at Discount Prices Copyright 2008, by Christiane Jory.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. Published by
Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 10: 1-59869-469-3
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-469-7
eISBN 13: 978-144051-480-7 Printed in the United States of America. J I H G F E D C B A Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jory, Christiane.
The 99 cent only stores cookbook / Christiane Jory.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59869-469-7 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 1-59869-469-3 (pbk.)
1. I. I.

Title.
TX652.J675 2008
641.5'52dc22
2007016522 This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. and my
many fearless tasters Contents
by Sherry Gold and Dave Gold, FOUNDERS , 99 ONLY STORES Violets Morning Cake
Foreword
by Sherry Gold and Dave Gold
FOUNDERS, 99 ONLY STORES I t was Friday the 13th in August 1982. and my
many fearless tasters Contents
by Sherry Gold and Dave Gold, FOUNDERS , 99 ONLY STORES Violets Morning Cake
Foreword
by Sherry Gold and Dave Gold
FOUNDERS, 99 ONLY STORES I t was Friday the 13th in August 1982.

An unusually long line of people wound around the small 2,500-square-foot store on La Tijera Boulevard in Los Angeles, which was about to open its doors for the first time. Excitement mounted as TV crews arrived, one after the other. The crowd of more than 500 people then surged forward. Each person felt that having waited in line all night entitled them to be among the first to enter the store, thus enabling them to purchase a brand-new TV set for 99 only. We started a tradition with those first nine people. Keeping up with the times, we have since sold iPods and other wonderful values to the first nine customers for 99.

We kept thinking that all the hype would die down, but the 99 Only Storess customers kept comingand come they have! Upper-income families, median-income families, even, reportedly, celebrities have comeranging from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Gere to Paris Hilton and Tyra Banks, who later filmed a TV show in the store. A world-renowned photographer, Andreas Gursky, took a photo in the store on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, which sold for more than $3.3 million on February 7, 2007, at the famous Sothebys auction house in Londonthe highest price ever attained for a photograph. In addition, there is an annual event, a play, which demonstrates the great values consistently available at 99 Only Stores. All of the plays products, merchandise, and decorations come directly from 99 Only Stores. Now there are more than 250 stores in four states. 99 Only Stores went public in 1996 and can be found listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Just as the first low-priced, high-quality products store grew and spread, so did the variety of items it carried. Products now include health and beauty aids, cosmetics, shampoos, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, house and garden products, tools, books, party aids and gifts, toys, back-to-school items, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, automotive products, and on and on. But thats not what this book is about. Christiane Jory, a faithful customer of 99 Only Stores, has put together this great cookbook featuring ingredients purchased exclusively from 99 Only Stores. With each passing day, 99 Only Stores is selling a wider array of foods, including more fresh produce, dairy, fresh milk and eggs, fresh bakery products, deli items, and now organic items as well, so you can expand further on Christianes recipes. She gives the steps for a wonderful dinner party for a large group, along with many helpful hints.

Perhaps we will be invited. Wed be honored. INTRODUCTION
A BriefHistory I moved back to Los Angeles eight years ago, and being introduced to 99 Only Stores has been my saving grace. I was quite skeptical when my friend Valerie told me about this futuristic dime store, and, like most 99 Only Stores neophytes, I pictured a dark warehouse full of dusty items, where only the most unwanted actually cost less than a dollar. So when I entered the La Brea and Willoughby location, I glowered and proceeded to search for the catch. Slowly my eyes widened and in a few moments I went from scoffing to gaping.

This is the best place on earth! I exclaimed as Valerie reveled in the always-enjoyable I told you so. Even after this admission, I was still more of a sundry girl, not spending much time in the food aisles and retaining an appropriate amount of skeptical snobbery. Sure, every once in a while I would stop in before lunch and let my whining stomach talk me into buying some crackers or anything I could eat on the run, but as I explored the uncharted territory, certain items began to catch my attentionitems like the same marinated artichoke hearts I had just spent $5 on at my local supermarket and, to my delightful surprise... the wine. I never looked twice at the shelf boasting these vintages, until one day I noticed a woman, who would have looked more at home shopping in the Barneys shoe department, loading up her purple, metal cart with bottles of the 99 Chardonnay being offered at the time. I stared questioningly, and with a wink and a smile, she whispered, Its really good.

Well, now I am the woman (sans the fancy shoes) filling her cart with the newest 99 vintage and sharing the secret with chosen newcomers. This personal history all came back to me a few years later when a group of friends and I were meeting at a French bistro in West Los Angeles. In the middle of a conversation my friend John trumpeted, This is what its all about... good friends, good conversation some people, especially in this town, have it all mixed up. We are defined by who surrounds us, not what surrounds us.... (I must point out that this happened before those credit card commercials coined the priceless catchword. (I must point out that this happened before those credit card commercials coined the priceless catchword.

Johns quote, therefore, had more depth than it might today.) I agreed with him wholeheartedly, but refrained from ruining his epiphany by pointing out that this meeting of the minds was taking place in a forum that, though moderate, was not free, and that at least one of our friends was absent because of not being able to afford the pricelessness. It was a great night of laughter and debate and what I believe will be an addition to the fond memories of which life is composed. But am I going to remember the wine, the food, or even the restaurant when I am sitting in my rocker? Who knows, yet they were integral just the same. What I am sure to remember is that one of our friends was not thereand that is what kept nagging me after I arrived back home. Armed with a glass of wine, I paced the length of my apartment while Johns words played through my mind. Though reluctant, I was forced to admit that we were secretly under the control of what we had sworn didnt matter.