Ruthie's Table 4
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 River Cafe 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 lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Episodes
Emerald Fennell is a director (‘Promising Young Woman’ and ‘Saltburn’), actor (Camilla in ‘The Crown’), writer (‘Killing Eve’), and my friend. Now, we are all waiting breathlessly for her latest film, Wuthering Heights, which she has produced, written and directed. Today, we’re together to discuss the importance of food in her movies, memories of fish and chips with her parents,...
Andrew Jarecki is a landmark figure in documentary filmmaking. His works include Capturing the Friedmans, The Jinx, and most recently the Academy Award-nominated The Alabama Solution, which explores the brutal reality of Alabama’s prison system through unprecedented, inmate-captured footage.
In this episode, Andrew joins Ruthie to talk how his childhood passion for magic led to his first documentary, relocating to Rome and re...
A new year, a new wood oven, and the return of agretti and blood oranges to The River Cafe.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
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Jeremy King is London’s most influential and important restaurateur.
If, as I firmly believe, restaurants are crucial to the life of a city, Jeremy is crucial to this one. He created Le Caprice, The Ivy, The Wolseley, now The Park and The Arlington. In March he will open Simpsons In The Strand.
Today, he and I are going to talk about how it all began, how he remembers the past and envisions the future, the ingredients of...
Live onstage in Los Angeles, Laurene talks to Ed and Ruthie about the creative process behind their new book, Squeeze Me.
Packed with fifty inventive recipes, the book casts the lemon as the star of sweet and savoury dishes alike.
Order here: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
Originally recorded on Sunday, 7th December 2025 by Live Talks Los Angeles.
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Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown joins Ruthie to share memories of his childhood in Scotland, accidentally hosting a burglar in the family home, the highs and lows of hospital food, and his work today on global education and poverty.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
Gabriela and Ruthie discuss their experiences of setting up a business, and the importance of investing in staff.
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Uruguayan-born luxury fashion designer Gabriela Hearst talks to Ruthie about running her family’s 17,000-acre ranch, the importance of sustainability and natural materials in her work, and her passion for food both at home and abroad.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...
Ruthie is joined by Sian Owen and Joseph Trivelli, the River Cafe executive chefs, to talk about her latest book Squeeze Me, a collaboration with Ed Ruscha, celebrating lemons with photographs and River Cafe recipes.
Order here: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
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One of the most influential portrait photographers of the last century Annie Leibovitz sits down with Ruthie to talk about her early career at Rolling Stone, the importance of feeding the people she’s shooting, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Rashida reflects on her father's nocturnal lifestyle, synesthesia and music writing habits.
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Actor, writer and producer Rashida Jones joins Ruthie to discuss her childhood mealtimes in a house with six siblings, her mother’s love of chicken liver and matzo ball soup, and the joy of eating while living in Japan.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this bonus episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, we’re talking Christmas at The River Cafe, with our executive chefs Sian Wyn Owen and Joseph Trivelli.
What’s on the menu this December? How do we make it, and why do we love it? All this, and stories of Dada’s Christmas Cake.
Merry Christmas!
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Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, critic and curator Hilton Als speaks to Ruthie about his eccentric jet-lag snacking, the 1980s New York food scene, and curating the Jean Rhys exhibition at Michael Werner Gallery.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dame Jacinda Ardern reflects on how she became Prime Minister of New Zealand in unexpected circumstances, the challenges of governing through COVID, and the importance of dignity within the welfare system.
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The former Prime Minister of New Zealand and one of the world’s youngest female leaders Dame Jacinda Ardern talks to Ruthie about becoming a mother in office, her food experiences in London and Arizona, and governing with compassion.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...
Writer and filmmaker Noah Baumbach joins Ruthie to talk about the role of food in his latest film Jay Kelly, which stars George Clooney as a world-famous actor reflecting on his life, relationships, and legacy, trying to make sense of his past and his present.
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Journalist, broadcaster and ‘America’s best friend' Gayle King joins Ruthie to talk about the Turkish food that shaped her childhood, the origins of her 50-year friendship with Oprah, and the unexpected joy of singing in space with Katy Perry.
Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe - the book inspired by the podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook
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One of the world’s most influential and innovative designers Marc Newson joins Ruthie to talk about growing up in rural Australia, designing everything from furniture and watches to restaurants in Japan, and his perfect barbecued steak.
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I’m often asked who would be my dream guest on Ruthie’s Table 4, and this episode with Vice President Kamala Harris is top of the list.
Vice President of The United States, candidate for President, Kamala Harris is passionate about food, and an excellent cook.
She gives us her special recipes for Thanksgiving collard greens, her mother's Smorgasbord and her 'world famous' bolognese.
We discuss the politics of food, the ...
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