10 Coffee-table books for the foodie

This is food porn at its finest and most expensive. Warning: There are no recipes, just pictures. The colors and deliciousness in The Photography of Modernist Cuisine were just too good to pass up (Amazon, $120).

These recipes are not for the faint of heart. They mix classic French cuisine with all the latest culinary tricks and techniques. Try them — or just visit the restaurant and keep Eleven Madison Park: The Cookbook as a souvenir (Amazon, $60).

Slice open this monolith to any page and find yourself awash in English culinary history, recipes and a mix of unique watercolor art and photographs. Warning: Don't let Grandma lift Historic Heston on her own (Amazon, $200).

Less expensive and more attainable than its predecessor, Modernist Cuisine at Home is a well-photographed book that's also the ultimate guide to having the best kitchen and creating the best food (Amazon, $140).

The outside's stark art depicting the cuts of a pig is awesome enough, and inside, you'll find recipes and pictures of the food you grew up with. However, Ad Hoc at Home makes it 10 times better tasting and 100 times better looking (Amazon, $50).

This is the smallest book on our list, and it's also the brightest. This puppy belongs at the top of the stack or on an apartment-sized coffee table. Thai food is certainly the most colorful, and Pok Pok will inspire foodies to give it a try in their kitchens instead of ordering in (Amazon, $35).

Daniel Boulud knows French food better than anyone, and his cooking has warranted compliments from some of the most famous chefs in the world. Daniel offers instructions for making (and pictures of) his most renowned dishes (Amazon, $60).

Yes, Thomas Keller deserves to be on this list twice. Bouchon Bakery is the reason why, sometimes, Frenchwomen do get fat. Keep a glass of milk handy when flipping through this book and definitely invite us over if you try the recipes (Amazon, $50).

No foodie list would be complete without the Iron Chef. In Morimoto, you'll find colorful photos of food that looks far different from the stuff you get for takeout at Japanese restaurants in the city. Of course, these recipes taste as good as they look (Amazon, $40).

Don't let the minimalist cover fool you — this book is full of vibrant pictures and flavors. That is, assuming you can find the ingredients to try your hand at the dishes presented in D.O.M. (Amazon, $50).