best wine coffee table book

They’re one of those things you never really think of having yourself, but when you come across a good one, you want it. And will ignore all conversation going on around you while you flip through it. But I’m not talking about that photo collection of tropical fish your aunt bought in Hawaii. I’m talking scratch & sniff, internationally-acclaimed, food and drink works of art. Here they are, the 5 books your coffee table has just been begging for: If you’re a fan of many-colored diagrams and illustrated flowcharts, you’re going to love Wine Folly. The book outlines over 100 styles of wine, from chardonnay to sherry, and breaks them down with colored flavor charts, illustrated tasting notes, and fast-facts on where and how it’s made. Not only will this book look chic on your table, it also comes in handy for those moments when you’re staring into your fridge and all you have are eggs and… coconut milk? Flip through this alphabetically organized list of flavor pairings to find how, and if, you can make it work or uncover a combo you never could’ve dreamed of.

Want to know what the hell people are talking about when they say a wine tastes like cat pee? Or how to smell if a wine is corked? Find out in this scratch-and-sniff guide, put together by a Master Somm! Sniff your way to a better understanding of common tasting notes, complete with doodled illustrations and helpful definitions of basic wine terms. This award winning cookbook contains some truly incredible recipes, but it is photos that put it over the top — and not just of the delectable Middle Eastern cuisine, but of food stalls, spices and daily life in the title city. It is sprinkled with personal anecdotes, from co-authors and chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, about growing up on opposite ends of the divided city, and and the cover is softly padded, making it both easy to hold in the kitchen and kick-back with on the sofa. Rather than rely on Yelpers to tell you where you should get your next meal, why not ask your favorite chef where they like to grab a bite?

This encyclopedia of a book (both in physical size and in content) contains recommendations from more than 600 chefs all over the world of 3,200 restaurants ranging from fine dining to late night eats. So who you gonna trust, some dude who writes Yelp reviews because he has too much time on his hands, or Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud?We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Plan — or daydream about — the perfect trip to Wine Country with Wine Trails. Get it from Amazon for $16.66. The Southerner’s Cookbook combines recipes and historic tales to offer a detailed look at the factors that shaped some of the South’s most beloved dishes. Get it from Amazon for $25.36. You may just become a coffee know-it-all after reading The World Atlas of Coffee. Get it from Amazon for $21.87. Make your ice cream obsession known to all of your home’s guests with the drool-inducing The Ice Cream Gypsy.

Improve your barista skills for the better with The Home Barista. Get it from Amazon for $13.12. Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner follows the people and food that have made Poole’s Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina, a standout eatery. Get it from Amazon for $26.96. Satisfy your sweet tooth in every way with Coffee and Dessert on The Coastside. Get it from Amazon for $59. You’ll never run out of meal ideas for your next dinner party with Be My Guest. Get it from Amazon for $7.54. The human body and food come together for the delectably sexy images in La Figa: Visions of Food and Form. Get it from Amazon for $39.95. Have your cake and make some crafts too while flipping through The Year of Cozy. Get it from Amazon for $16.65. Explore the wonders of Wine Country with Napa Valley. Get it from Amazon for $9.99. Give your kitchen a makeover with a little assistance from Style & Simplicity. Get it from Amazon for $10.84

Learn the keys of Thai cooking with The Principles of Thai Cookery. Get it from Amazon for $45.99. The Art of Living According to Joe Beef gives the full rundown on the recipes that have made Joe Beef a food icon in Montreal, Canada You’ll likely add several new destinations to your travel list after checking out Cool Restaurants Top of the World. Get it from Amazon for $64.34. Take a quick trip to France’s countryside with A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse. Get it from Amazon for $27.49. Wild Plate: Modern Living Cuisine gives an exciting look at the beauty of raw foods. Get it from Amazon for $112. Get the scoop on some of the world’s most tasty dishes with Food Lover’s Guide to the World. Get it from Amazon for $26.66. And keep the ultimate wine guide in reach by picking up Living with Wine. Get it from Amazon for $63.75. Want even more great product suggestions? Sign up for BuzzFeed’s Gift Guide Newsletter!