Michael Ruhlman has a preview of the Alinea Book, which is getting even more prerelease hype than the restaurant did, if such a thing is possible.

The six-and-a-half-pound doorstop–which includes an introduction by Ruhlman and essays by Jeffery Steingarten, Mike Nagrant, and Wired editor Mark McCluskey, who wrote about Achatz in 2006–is lowballed at a stunning $50 (or, $63.45 with shipping, handling, and tax). Ruhlman also links through to an earlier post in which managing partner Nick Kokonas discusses the publishing model he and Achatz concocted in order to a) retain creative control and b) allow them to sell what is essentially a big, glossy art book at an even vaguely accessible price. A price that has, so far, allowed them to presell half the initial print run of 50,000 copies.

I ordered mine today. What the hell. Christmas is coming.