Eleven Madison Park: The Cookbook Hardcover – Illustrated, 1 Dec. 2011

As with all books from top end restaraunts not for the inexperienced or faint hearted. But the detail is great, photos brilliant. If you liked cooking from say the French Laundary or any of Kellers books then you will like this one, It was actually much more accesible than i was expecting though. You do need a sous vide though as its used in a lot of the recipes. Recipes will take time and commitment but if you are at a decent level of skill and enthusiam you already know this. If you can cook from this you could probably enter Masterchef and maybe even win it :) . In the back there are tons of little recipes for gels, sauces and other additions that you can adapt to you other recipes so worth it for that. The only thing I would say though is it is not set out in the usual style of meat, fish, desert etc but recipes are listed by season which you either like or don't - it didn't bother me but i would rather have the more traditional layout if pushed. overall very good and worth buying

My coffee table cookbook of choice for the last few years has been Thomas Keller's double pack of French Laundry and Bouchon, packaged in that neat wallet that looks like (and at a push could probably act as) a fisherman's slab. I kept trying others, like the weighty and depressingly grey Fat Duck Cookbook or the El Bulli one, but always went back to the Keller compedium. Not anymore, though. It's been swiftly replaced on my coffee table by Eleven Madison Park, and I reckon it could be moving in for a good long while.The reasons aren't just aesthetic, though it is an impressively gorgeous looking book. It's also that the recipes are in fact extremely enticing, even if I won't end up following them that religiously onca day to day basis, saving that for a special occasion. Instead, what I tend to use the book for are ideas. So the "John Dory Seared with Sweet Corn, Chaneterelles, Radishes and Lemongrass" has triggered a succesful dish using those same flavours in my own kitchen, though a stripped down and less complex version of the Eleven Madison Park original, for certain. Ditto the combination of Cauliflower with Grapes, Almonds and Curry. Absolutely delicious, I'm telling you.When I have attempted one of Daniel Humm's awe-inspiring dishes, they've worked perfectly and tasted utterly delightful... I'm thinking in particular of a Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake with, wait for it, candied green olives, which is truly sensational, the sweet/salty acidity of the olives and lemons a superb pairing that works splendidly in a martini so why not in a cake...?A truly incredible coffee table cookbook that is extremely workable in the kitchen too.

This is probably not something I will ever cook - I am not in their league. However, I love this book. I bought it for my 15 year old who has always wanted to go to 11 Madison Park - however, a trip to New York for supper is out of our league!!!!!!!!! But she was enthralled with the book and it has pride of place in our kitchen on display.The super thing about this book is that you can break it down if you want to just use a couple of their concepts. There are recipes in there that I could cook and miss out the tricky bits.It is a lovely book to read, and the writers do understand that this is not for everyone!However, it is a gorgeous book, broken down into seasons. Stunning photography. A really super book to own. Just dont expect to cook from it, unless you are a chef or a Masterchef contestant!

Quite simply the crème de la crème of cookbooks. An exceptional source of background information about Executive Chef Daniel Humm, General Manager Will Guidara and the daily operation both out front and behind the scenes at Eleven Madison Park, one of the worlds top restaurants. This beautiful book showcases a vast range of their dishes by season and includes recipes, cooking techniques and the most beautiful photographs of their exquisitely plated food. The narrative suggests that many of the recipes have been adapted for the home cook - I would suggest that it is not for the faint hearted but no matter whether you are a professional chef or a very gifted amateur, the book itself is equally suited as a reference book in the kitchen or a feast for the eyes on a coffee table.

This is one of the most exquisite books I've read in a long time.The photography of the food is stunning. The recipes themselves are fantastic and the book gives both clear instruction and also inspiration for the budding chef.The book also gives insight into the birth of Eleven Madison Park and how it has grown as a business. There are great sections included that detail "a day in the life of..." where you see how the restaurant operates on a daily basis, and a floorplan.For me, a real bonus was the section at the back including recipes for gels, purees, sauces and oils. Very useful.If you are looking for a cookbook, a coffee table book, stunning food photography or simply inspiring recipes, look no further.

Got this for my boyfriend for his birthday after doing plenty of research. The book is both beautiful to look at and the photography of the dishes inside is colourful and excellently presented. Would not recommend this book for anyone who does not want to challenge themselves or is not interested in a more fine dining experience of cooking as some of the ingredients and dishes are quite advanced. As I am from the UK the only downfall is that this book is from the US and measurements are in cups, but this can be easily overcome.

I really like this book although I have to say that the style of cuisine, although sophisticated, is a little bit samey. I'm probably being a touch churlish but I found some things a bit overdecorated wioth flowers and micro herbs. A great addition to my collection (which is very large).