

Ruthie's Table 4
iHeartPodcasts
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
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
Mentioned books

Mar 4, 2025 • 35min
Alastair Campbell
People often say they'd be too nervous to cook a meal for me, so imagine how I feel interviewing Alastair Campbell, co-host of The Rest Is Politics, one of the UK's top podcasts. Alistair is a journalist, author, broadcaster, and defining political figure of our time. I've known him since the early days of New Labour, where he was Director of Communications and Strategy at the heart of it all. He's also been a prominent mental health activist and joins me today in The River Cafe to talk about food, family, values, and even busking in the south of France with his bagpipes. How do I really feel about hosting him today? I'm not nervous at all, just honoured and excited. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 28, 2025 • 38min
Elton John, Zoe Saldaña & Ralph Fiennes (2025 Oscars Special)
The Oscars are only a few days away and Ruthie’s Table 4 is excited. Ralph Fiennes, Zoe Saldaña and Elton John - three Ruthie’s Table 4 guests - are nominated for Academy Awards, and we’re revisiting their interviews in this episode. Ralph is nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his brilliant performance in Conclave. Elton for Best Original Song for ‘Never Too Late’ from the documentary about his life of the same name. Zoe Saldaña is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her magnetic performance in the musical Emilia Pérez. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 25, 2025 • 35min
Erling Kagge
Erling Kagge is one of the world's great explorers - a man whose life embraces solitude. That is, when he‘s not being attacked by a polar bear… thankfully, he lived to tell the tale. He is the first person to reach, by foot, the North Pole, South Pole, and Mount Everest. Erling and my life might be dissimilar, but we share a love for the unknown. For him, it might be a new horizon. For me, a discovery of a little-known Sicilian recipe. Today, we're here on our own adventure, not on the top of a mountain or in the icy North Pole, but safe and warm in the River Cafe. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 18, 2025 • 31min
Francis Ford Coppola (Part 2)
In Francis Ford Coppola (Part 2), we discuss the origins of pizza, his experience eating lambs’ brain as a child, and how a loophole during America’s prohibition led to Francis buying the Inglenook winery with his earnings from The Godfather. We both bought in bottles of his wine to taste - a lovely way to begin and to continue a conversation. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 11, 2025 • 37min
Francis Ford Coppola (Part 1)
When Francis Ford Coppola agreed to do a podcast with me, good friends who know us both said “actually Ruthie, the two of you are rather alike”. Did they mean being a Chef is like being a Film Director? Or producing a movie is like running a restaurant? Or is choosing the grapes for your vineyard is like choosing the herbs for your fish? Or most of all, did they mean we both have our family involved in everything we do? I'm happy to take any of the above. In part one of my conversation with Francis, we talk about the vocabulary gangsters use when cooking, meeting an aspiring young filmmaker called George Lucas, the pain of losing our sons far too young - and everything in between. Also… in a first for the podcast, we even find time for a musical break - and sing a duet of the Howdy Doody theme song. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 7, 2025 • 5min
Bonus Episode - New York with Zoe Saldaña
In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, Golden Globe-winning actress Zoe Saldaña discusses her love for New York - a melting pot of different foods and cultures. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 4, 2025 • 50min
Zoe Saldaña
A couple of months ago I discovered a sign on the door to my office, saying ‘Do not disturb.’ Zoe Saldana was inside, changing into her dress for lunch downstairs to celebrate the release of her new movie, Emilia Pérez. Afterwards I walked her to her car, talking about how to make the perfect rice. A few minutes later, we'd agreed to do a podcast together. Since then, I've seen her everywhere, on screens and newspapers, magazines and posters. Last month she won a Golden Globe, and in February and March she’s a contender for both a BAFTA and an Oscar. Now, Zoe is back here with me on a Saturday morning in The River Cafe, to talk about food, family, and happiness. Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 30, 2025 • 6min
Bonus Episode - Working Lunches with James Harding
Discover how a simple lunch can reveal insights into colleagues and job candidates. The discussion highlights the evolution of business lunches, showcasing anecdotes that illustrate their significance. Personal stories emphasize the joys of meal preparation and the deep connections that shared dining experiences foster. Uncover the power of food in enhancing communication and building relationships in the workplace.

Jan 28, 2025 • 34min
James Harding
James Harding, a renowned journalist and founder of the Tortoise news platform, shares deep insights on journalism and food. He fondly recalls his favorite journalism films and discusses the essence of slow news in today's fast-paced world. Their conversation takes a nostalgic turn as they explore how culinary traditions shape family dynamics and cultural connections. Harding also shares captivating anecdotes from his travels in Japan and China, illustrating the profound link between food, culture, and personal experiences.

13 snips
Jan 21, 2025 • 28min
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Greta Gerwig, the visionary behind Barbie and Little Women, and Noah Baumbach, acclaimed for The Squid and the Whale and Marriage Story, share their delightful Sunday lunch tradition. They delve into how food intertwines with filmmaking, discussing a nostalgic steak recipe that symbolizes connection. The duo reflects on family cooking memories and the role of meals in their upbringing. Through humor and heartfelt anecdotes, they reveal how shared experiences around the table inspire creativity and foster meaningful relationships.