Sam Taylor-Johnson is an artist, photographer, and film-director - and she has been a friend of Ruthie’s since the day they met at the Tate gallery in 1998 when Sam was awarded the Turner Prize. Listen to their memories of children, food, music and art as part of Ruthie's Table 4's artist series. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Ab...
Oct 11, 2022•34 min
In 2015, Jonas Wood was in London for his show at Gagosian Gallery. He came to The River Cafe for lunch, leaving behind the gift of a beautiful drawing on River Cafe stationery—a spiky long cactus, its leaves reaching out over the logo. Jonas brought LA to London, and a cactus to The River Cafe. Ruthie and Jonas promised to meet one day to talk about food, family and art. Six years later, London came to LA to record a podcast. Listen here to their time together via the link in our bio. For more ...
Oct 04, 2022•26 min
Over the last year, I’ve had the great luck to sit with 46 fabulous guests on our podcast ‘Ruthie's Table 4’ - talking about food, family, and memories. Everyone has read a recipe from a River Cafe cook book and shared stories about cooking and eating in their favourite restaurants. In September we will be back for Season 2. Gwyneth Paltrow, Wolfgang Puck, Mel Brooks and many more will be with me. Join us then - your table will be ready and waiting. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in Londo...
Aug 16, 2022•31 min
Over the last year, I’ve had the great luck to sit with 46 fabulous guests on our podcast ‘Ruthie's Table 4’ - talking about food, family, and memories. Everyone has read a recipe from a River Cafe cook book and shared stories about cooking and eating in their favourite restaurants. In September we will be back for Season 2. Gwyneth Paltrow, Wolfgang Puck, Mel Brooks and many more will be with me. Join us then - your table will be ready and waiting. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in Londo...
Aug 09, 2022•34 min
As Barack Obama’s chief fundraiser, Matthew Barzun was acclaimed for encouraging many small-scale donors to contribute in 2008 and again in 2012. As the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Barzun, together with his wife Brooke, initiated town meetings in schools all over Britain, and opened up Winfield House, his official residence, to artists, musicians, writers, actors -hosting celebrations, concerts, political forums and the best parties ever. On episode 46 of The River Cafe Table...
Aug 02, 2022•26 min
In front of the camera and behind, Danny Huston has spent his life in movies. Danny, son of John Huston, grew up watching rushes, travelling to film locations, and meeting all the great actors. Later directing, producing and acting in films and television series: Mr North, Fade to Black, The Constant Gardener, Succession and much more. I knew Danny loves food, but nothing could have impressed me more than when, of all The River Cafe recipes, he chose, toast. Toast - or rather as the Italians cal...
Jul 26, 2022•22 min
Valerie Biden Owen’s family are typical Americans in some ways, but not that typical. Her brother Joe is the President of the United States. In today's River Cafe Table 4 she and Ruthie will be talking about food and family, from the kitchen table of her childhood home to the White House dining room and Air Force One. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Cai...
Jul 19, 2022•22 min
Recently a friend led me across a crowded room with the words—“Talk to this man about food; he is passionate!” So, I did - and put away all my questions about the dynamic, social and radical philanthropic work that Darren Walker does as CEO of the Ford Foundation. After 10 minutes of stories and memories of his childhood and the food he ate in Lafayette, Louisiana, I asked him to pause suggesting we do this on Ruthie's Table 4. And here we are — in the restaurant ready to carry on the conversati...
Jul 12, 2022•29 min
When Ruthie was asked to debut a live podcast, her first call was to Josh Berger. In his thirty years at Warner Bros. UK, Josh gave audiences some of Hollywood’s greatest movies – Harry Potter, A Star is Born, and The Hangover and with his role as chairman of the British Film Institute he helped make London a city of movie-goers and moviemakers. On Broadway he co-produced the Tony Award–winning musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. He is also the non-executive chair of...
Jul 05, 2022•26 min
My favourite line in this conversation from our 41st episode of River Cafe Table 4, is Austin Butler saying he and I are ‘family’. Austin arrived straight from playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s movie ‘ Elvis ’ in January 2021 and we met soon after. London was just out of a COVID lockdown and, needing an immediate tradition, we decided to have dinner at my home every Sunday night with the same small group of friends. Austin would arrive early and cook with me, and this is what we did, every...
Jun 28, 2022•27 min
When Congressman Adam Schiff came to London, giving a dinner for him in our home was a great honour. On Episode 40 of Ruthie's Table 4, Ruthie and Adam talk about the food he grew up with, the food he cooks for his family, and the food he finds personally comforting. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria ...
Jun 21, 2022•20 min
Everybody is interested in process. How do actors memorize their lines, how does an airplane stay up in the sky? The question I'm most often asked is how does a restaurant work? How do you know how many portions of sea bass to order? What do you do when a chef calls in sick? The answers to these questions ? It's people. And two very important people for me are Sian Wyn Owen and Joseph Travelli, Executive Chefs in the River Cafe. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-...
Jun 14, 2022•26 min
Mark Carney does more than you can imagine – previously Governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, he is now UN Special Envoy for Climate Action, UK government’s climate-finance advisor, and Vice Chairman of Brookfield Asset Management. Mark runs miles before the rest of us have had our first espresso. He sings, writes a best-selling book – Value(s) - cooks for his four children and is a master of the technique for grilling a Bistecca Fiorentina to perfection. Listen to him and Ruth...
Jun 07, 2022•21 min
Having read Afua Hirsch’s political memoir Brit(ish), I was both moved and informed. So I asked her if we might have a conversation for Ruthie's Table 4. Anyone who’s watched her documentaries, read her articles, or participated in her grassroots organising, knows that Afua’s insights on racism, inclusion, and British history is radical, brave and brilliant. Before going into the restaurant for lunch together, we will talk about what her Ghanain grandmothers cooked for her as a teenager in Londo...
May 31, 2022•26 min
Often when you meet someone in a foreign country there is immediate friendship. Erdem, the designer of beautiful clothes, and his husband, Philip Joseph, and I were in Mexico City in 2019 staying in the same hotel. They were days of discoveries, searching for the perfect Tequila, walking miles to Niddo - our favourite breakfast spot - eating every tortilla, tacho and tamale we could find. A friendship that began on vacation has followed us home, to London, where we are continually searching for ...
May 24, 2022•22 min
There is no such thing as a simple phone call with my beautiful friend Christiane Amanpour. Asking, as I did yesterday, where she’s been she answers “Ukraine”, asking where she is going, she says, “Afghanistan”. This is what it is like having a fearless friend you love, who puts herself in danger, reporting facts, holding people to account, and telling the truth from wherever she is and whoever she is talking to. Christiane goes on biking trips, retreats to her house in the Isle de Re, and flies...
May 17, 2022•29 min
There are actors who write, producers who direct and cooks who campaign for social change. Stanley Tucci does all of these. He writes cook books, creates and hosts a beautiful TV series about Italy, and acts and directs movies that touch us all. On episode 33 we talk about all this and more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians....
May 10, 2022•26 min
A few months ago, I walked into a very busy River Café lunch to be greeted by a buzz from the young waiters and chefs working here. They were incredibly excited – “Ruthie, Ruthie” they said, “Rag’n’Bone Man is on Table 4, why don’t you ask him to be on your podcast”. I personally have a rule not to interrupt anyone’s lunch, much less Britain’s most successful and brilliant blues singer, but this time I broke that rule. And here we are today, on a spring evening, in The River Cafe garden – about ...
May 03, 2022•24 min
Duro Olowu is a man of many parts. Fashion designer, art director, mentor to young entrepreneurs, and a passionate lover of food. Whenever he calls me, I never know if he is on his way to show his collection in Paris, curate an exhibition in Chicago, visit a wool factory in Tuscany, or just sitting down to have a plate of spaghetti bottarga in The River Cafe. Today I know where he is - with me on episode 32 of Ruthie's Table 4. Join us there. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has ...
Apr 26, 2022•27 min
Say the name Bob Iger, former CEO of Disney and Chairman of the Board, and everyone will think of the man that acquired Pixar, Lucas Films, and Marvel. I think of my good friend who cares passionately about what he feeds his children, his grandchildren and the people that work with him. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Stev...
Apr 19, 2022•21 min
I will tell you something about Stella McCartney. Stella is a fashion designer with ethics, a spokesperson for sustainability, a supporter of young designers, and entrepreneur who takes on risks for a cause. On our 30th episode of Ruthie's Table 4, Stella and Ruthie talk about food and memories of childhood, ethical eating, cooking and more. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and ...
Apr 12, 2022•25 min
Iwan Wirth - Swiss gallerist and co-founder of Hauser and Wirth - and Ruthie Rogers met through a mutual admiration and love for the artist Philip Guston. On episode 29 of Ruthie's Table 4, he and Ruthie discuss what it’s like to have 15 galleries four restaurants, two farms, three hotels, and large family to cook for. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Ca...
Apr 05, 2022•22 min
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On Ruthie's Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our liv...
Mar 29, 2022•21 min
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On Ruthie's Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our liv...
Mar 22, 2022•22 min
Alfonso Cuarón is a man who combines beauty in film, with a passion for telling stories. On Episode 26 of Ruthie's Table 4, the Academy Award–winning director, writer and producer talks with Ruthie about their mutual love for his native Mexico, and the feelings they share - their children are the centre of their lives, food is the focus of their days, and Italy is a second home for both of them. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, ...
Mar 15, 2022•23 min
If food and life have a close connection, then so does Lily Allen and The River Cafe, both born and raised in Hammersmith, West London. Lily in May 1985 and The River Cafe 18 months later in September 1987. Both have had their shares of ups and downs coming of age, but as creatives, both share a common commitment to being honest and straight about what they believe in and the values they hold. Lily really does tell it as it is, and that's what she and Ruthie will do on episode 25. Talk about foo...
Mar 08, 2022•23 min
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On Ruthie's Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our liv...
Mar 01, 2022•25 min
Tell anyone who works at The River Cafe that Maggie Gyllenhaal is coming in, and you will see a happy face. And if you listen to Episode 23 of The Ruthie's Table 4, you will understand why. She talks to Ruthie about eating only spinach pie while directing the Academy Award–nominated The Lost Daughter in Greece, perfectly peeling an orange for her children’s breakfast, her joy of expressing gratitude to the cast with a special dinner, and much more. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London...
Feb 22, 2022•22 min
Architect Sir David Adjaye fuses beautiful design with strong values in everything he creates. Now living in Ghana, in episode 22 of Ruthie's Table 4, David talks with Ruthie about how food intimately connects him to the projects he works on, and what it means to him as both a father and a citizen of the world. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Gle...
Feb 15, 2022•23 min
Did he really eat in the same restaurant in Paris twice a week while playing for PSG in 2013? Does he really believe the best pizza in the world can be found in Bushwick, Brooklyn? And did he discover the secret of pata negra ham while playing for Madrid? In Part 2 of their interview, David Beckham brings Ruthie Rogers into his world of football and food. Listen to it now on Episode 21 of Ruthie's Table 4. For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, a...
Feb 08, 2022•18 min
