Ruthie Rogers, co-owner of The River Cafe in London, hosts a podcast where she chats with famous friends about food memories. Guests like Michael Caine, Glenn Close, and JJ Abrams share stories about family meals, first dates, and comfort foods. Each episode ends with a guest reading a favorite recipe from the River Cafe cookbooks. The show explores how food connects to culture, love, and identity.
Episodes
How to Make the Perfect Tomato Sauce, with Steve Martin and Martin Short
In this episode of Table 4: Chefs’ Notes, Steve Martin and Martin Short bring a little show business to the kitchen as they read our slow-cooked tomato sauce recipe, with a banjo, impressions and plenty of laughter. Then I’m joined by River Café Executive Chef Joseph Trivelli, my cooking companion of more than 25 years, to share the secrets of a great tomato sauce. From choosing
Steve Martin & Martin Short on a Lifetime of Friendship, Food and Laughter
What happens when two of the funniest men in the world sit down to eat? On this special episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, I’m joined by Steve Martin and Martin Short. From their early days on The Three Amigos to Only Murders in the Building, we share stories of life on and off set, comfort food and their rather particular eating habits: Steve has never had a cup of coffee, while Marty
How to Cook the Perfect Sea Bass... Introducing Table 4: Chefs’ Notes!
We have something new for Series 6: Table 4: Chefs’ Notes! Each week, our Executive Chefs, Sian Wyn Owen and Joseph Trivelli, join me to share the secrets behind our favourite River Cafe recipes. In this episode, Nile Rodgers reads our recipe for grilled sea bass with salsa verde. Then Sian and Joseph share their expert tips for preparing and cooking the perfect sea bass, including a techniq
Nile Rodgers on Madonna, Spices, and Growing Up Amid Love and Addiction
Welcome to Season Six! How did growing up in a household affected by heroin, surrounded by jazz greats, shape Nile Rodgers? How did his Barbadian grandmother’s lessons about spices influence him? And what was it really like working with Madonna, David Bowie and Michael Jackson? In the first episode of Season Six, I sat down with Nile to explore his remarkable life, from his childhood i
Season Six!
We’re back! The sixth season of Ruthie’s Table 4 begins Tuesday, 3 November. Steve Martin and Martin Short tell us why grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup make the perfect Christmas dinner. Nile Rodgers remembers cooking with his grandmother in Barbados. Bertha González Nieves takes us to the agave fields where she fell in love with tequila, while Thandiwe Newton talks abo
From the Archive: Richard E. Grant on eating the same seven meals growing up, Henry Higgins and coping with loss
With Richard E. Grant delighting audiences on The Traitors, we’re looking back at this special episode of Ruthie’s Table 4. I remember Richard and his wife Joan in the early days of The River Cafe, coming in for lunch and sitting at the same table, always warm, lovely and absorbed in each other. More than thirty years later, Richard and I share the loss of the partners we loved. We cam
From the Archive: Gary Lineker on Goals, Gnocchi, and Refusing to Stay Silent
This week, we’re looking back at Gary Lineker’s visit to The River Cafe. Over the table, we travelled from his childhood in Leicester and the food of his mother’s kitchen to the football pitches of Barcelona. We talked about fame, family, and the importance of speaking out for refugees and compassion. Gary made potato gnocchi with tomato sauce alongside our chef Joseph Trivelli,
From the Archive: Cate Blanchett on growing her own food, multiculturalism, and a disastrous Christmas dinner
This week, we’re looking back to the summer morning we shared with Cate Blanchett, who joined me at The River Cafe after her run in Thomas Ostermeier’s The Seagull. We talked about the pleasures of touring a play, growing up between American and Australian food traditions, silent meals after losing her father, teenage dinner parties inspired by a Salvador Dalí cookbook, the
From the Archives: Sarah Jessica Parker on the importance of food in Sex and the City, cooking with her husband, and pork chops.
This week, we’re revisiting our live episode with Sarah Jessica Parker. And what a guest she was. Sarah has always had a deep love of food, so we had plenty to talk about: from the role of food in Sex and the City, where so many memorable conversations unfolded around a meal, to growing up as one of eight children and cooking every night with Matthew Broderick. She cooked puntarelle in the k
From the Archive: Benedict Cumberbatch on Living with Wes Anderson, Imitating Ruthie & ‘Daddy Pancakes’
During our between-season break, we’re revisiting some of our favourite conversations from the Ruthie’s Table 4 archive. This week, we're looking back to when Benedict Cumberbatch joined me at The River Cafe to talk about Negronis with Wes Anderson, growing up in a theatrical family, body transformations, and cooking for his children. Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an ep
From the Archive: Zoe Saldaña on Growing Up in Queens, Family Recipes & Why NYC Has the Best Pizza
As we look forward to Series 6 in October, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes of Ruthie’s Table 4. Zoe Saldaña was a force from the moment she entered the restaurant back in 2025. She told us stories about her grandmother’s coconut desserts, how her family dances through life, and what it was like growing up in Queens. We talked about Caribbean soups, Dominica
How Food Shapes Our Work… Gayle King, Mark Ronson, Graham Norton, Emerald Fennell, and Patrick Radden Keefe.
Whether in film, music, books or television, food can be a source of inspiration or integral to the way we work. In this special compilation episode of Ruthie's Table 4, we're talking about the shared ingredients of what we do, with Gayle King, Mark Ronson, Graham Norton, Emerald Fennell – the director of Wuthering Heights, and Patrick Radden Keefe – the author of&n
Where Food Meets Politics… Jacinda Ardern, Andrew Jarecki, Erin Lyall, Hilton Als, Annie Leibovitz, Kamala Harris
I've always thought we judge a culture by the way we feed our poor, our sick and our prisoners. In this special compilation episode of Ruthie's Table 4, we're talking about food and politics, in conversation with Jacinda Ardern, documentary filmmaker Andrew Jarecki, CBS conflict producer Erin Lyall, writer and critic Hilton Als, Annie Leibovitz, and Kamala Harris. Hit FOLLOW to
Why Restaurants Matter… Jamie Oliver, Piers Morgan, Marina Hyde & Richard Osman, Tracey Emin & Dara Khosrowshahi
It may come as no surprise that I have a special interest in restaurants. The River Café is where I work, where I record this podcast, and where I spend so much of my life. In this special compilation episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, we’re talking about restaurants—how to run them and why they matter—with stories and memories from Piers Morgan, Jamie Oliver, Marina Hyde
The Food That Shaped Us… Kamala Harris, Sadiq Khan, Ab Rogers, Marina Hyde and Richard Osman, and Rashida Jones.
Childhood kitchens, our parents' cooking—the food we eat when we're young stays with us for life. This special compilation of Ruthie's Table 4 celebrates food and childhood, featuring memories from Kamala Harris, Mayor Sadiq Khan, architect Ab Rogers, Marina Hyde and Richard Osman, and Rashida Jones. Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode, and join the Ruthie’s Table
If You Can't Take the Heat… How Does a Restaurant Handle a Roasting Summer?
As a farewell to series 5, I'm joined by Sian Wyn Owen to take you behind the scenes at The River Café during the recent heatwaves this summer—what we cooked and how we served. And Season 6 is on the way, starting off with the stars of Only Murders in the Building, Steve Martin and Martin Short, in an episode full of laughter, food memories, and banjo playing. See you in October! Orde
Dorothée Boissier on Designing Restaurants, Paris, and Creative Partnership
Dorothée Boissier is an interior designer and co-founder of the Gilles & Boissier studio. Together with her husband, Patrick Gilles, she creates exquisite architecture and interiors around the world. Today, we're at Moncler's beautiful flagship store on the Champs-Élysées, designed by Dorothée and Patrick. We'll talk about Paris, food, their creative partnership, an
Clare Hornby, Founder and CEO of ME+EM
Good food and good clothes should do the same thing: make you feel instantly comfortable, confident, and completely at home. In this episode Ruthie sits down with Clare Hornby, the visionary entrepreneur founder and CEO of ME+EM. Clare has built the UK's fastest-growing luxury label by mastering "intelligent style" -creating crafted, functional wardrobes for women. Bound by a shared love for excep
Bonus: Michael Elias on his new book, Bender's LA
Ruthie speaks to her brother, screenwriter and author Michael Elias, about his latest novel, Bender's LA. In the coke-dusted canyons and deal-making rooms of 1970s Los Angeles, writer David Bender sets out to remake his life - romantically, professionally, and spiritually - after his wife walks out in Puerto Vallarta with a single sentence and a suitcase. Order a copy now: https://www.amazon.co.uk
In Conversation With Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist
Zanny Minton Beddoes and I have different professions, and different workplaces. As editor-in-chief of The Economist, hers is in the newsroom mine is the kitchen. But we have much in common, sharing a message of honesty - me with ingredients, Zanny with words. And we both have time limits - in the case of this conversation, just 20 minutes which we recorded live onstage at the Google Ze
Bonus: Wine with Ab Rogers
Ab Rogers explains his fascination with wine and why he prefers grapes that have had to fight for their survival. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ab Rogers, Designer
Ab Rogers is a visionary designer. He is also my stepson. For over 50 years, we’ve been side by side, taking adventures together. Today, we’re together in the River Cafe to share stories - memories of his father and my husband Richard Rogers - travels, families, work and food. We will also talk about five women who inspired the way he cooks, and the creative methods h
Bonus: Erin Lyall on Eating With Soldiers
Erin Lyall, a conflict producer for CBS News, reveals what it's like to eat with soldiers, how an army feeds itself, and how she personally recovers after the strain of working in a war zone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erin Lyall, Conflict Producer For CBS News
As a conflict producer for CBS News, Erin Lyall has eaten with Ukrainian soldiers on the freezing front line, cooked with families in their homes in Gaza, and shared meals on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq with bullets sounding in the distance. From these experiences in the field, Erin created Food Under Fire, a unique food blog featuring recipes, anecdotes, and portraits of the people she's m
Bonus: Graham Norton on why you should work in a restaurant
Graham Norton reveals what he learned from working in restaurants, what he noticed about tricky customers, and why he would recommend the experience to everyone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mel Brooks Turns 100
This week marks a very special occasion. My friend, Mel Brooks, is turning 100. For the best part of a century, he has lit up the world with his warmth and humour, delighting audiences as a writer, director, actor and comedian. From The Producers and Blazing Saddles to Young Frankenstein, his unique talents have left an indelible mark on film, television and theatre.To celebrate Mel, we're going t
Graham Norton
To be a truly great host, as Graham Norton is every week on his television sofa, you have to understand and genuinely like people. It's the same for me at the River Café. There's no such thing as a difficult customer. Everybody has a story, and every table is a world. Usually it's Graham asking the questions, but today, he's answering mine—about his early years in an American commune,
Giulio Bertelli, Filmmaker
Last September, at the Venice Film Festival, I went to see Agon — a radical and powerful film. Afterwards, I immediately changed my schedule to attend a dinner for its director, Giulio Bertelli. Today, Giulio and I are back together in Hammersmith to discuss his filmmaking, the food of his childhood in Milan, his time as a professional sailor, the history of food and seafaring, and the compa
Piers Morgan, Broadcaster
Everyone knows Piers Morgan as a journalist, editor, and fearless interviewer. But I also know him as someone who loves food and can describe in detail what makes a great restaurant. Today, we're here together to talk about growing up in his family's country pub, the postcard he cherishes from his mother, drinks with Bill Clinton, dining with Tom Hanks, and seeing the glass half full. Order Table
Bonus: Ruth Porat - “If We Can, We Must.”
Ruth Porat - President and Chief Investment Officer of Google and Alphabet - discusses the social responsibilities that come with technological advancement and how AI must be used to tackle society’s most intractable problems. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/l
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer at Alphabet and Google
Ruth Porat is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Google and Alphabet. She is also my friend. Her extraordinary schedule has often kept us thousands of miles apart as she moves across continents, connecting people, ideas, and communities. But today, we’re together at last - a Ruth and a Ruthie - to talk about the importance of food at Google, her scientific childhood, how her
Bonus: Declan Kelly On Going Vegetarian
Consello CEO Declan Kelly discusses his decision to become a vegetarian as a teenager in 1980s Ireland, and how he eats today. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Declan Kelly - Founder, Chairman and CEO of Consello
A few months ago, I met Declan Kelly, founder, Chairman, and CEO of Consello, one of the world’s most influential advisory firms. The connection between us was immediate, as I discovered a fascinating person with a fascinating life. Born in rural Ireland, from humble beginnings, he became an important journalist, created an influential communications company and in 2007 and 2008 served as o
Bonus: Making A Menu
The River Café’s Sian Wyn Owen joins Michael and Lindsay Tusk to discuss the menu she has prepared for the day, the seasonal ingredients she is using, and how she organises a lunch service with her team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael & Lindsay Tusk, Restaurateurs, Quince & Co.
Chef Michael Tusk and his wife and partner, Lindsay Tusk, believe great food is about simplicity, quality ingredients, and happiness. A few months ago in San Francisco, I saw this for myself at their restaurants - Quince, Cotogna, and wine bar, Verjus. Today, on a beautiful spring day at the River Café we will talk about creating food what we look for in a restaurant, and much more.See omny
Bonus: Patrick Radden Keefe on eating together and eating alone
Patrick Radden Keefe talks about two contrasting food pleasures - hosting and eating alone. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patrick Radden Keefe, Author of London Falling
I’ve sometimes wondered whether writing a book might be a bit like cooking a meal. I create a menu by choosing the ingredients I’m drawn to. In the same way, today’s guest, Patrick Radden Keefe, creates a book by choosing the people he’s drawn to — most recently in his newly published London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for
Bonus: Talking Restaurants with Paul Price
Burberry’s Paul Price talks about the restaurants of his past, and his idea to start one in the future. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Price
Paul Price is Burberry’s Chief Product Merchandising Officer. When I asked his friend, film director Andrew Jarecki about him, he said ‘Paul is a tastemaker and a creator. He has reshaped my perception of what life can be, reimagining legendary fashion brands, most recently Burberry, making them newly relevant.” Paul and I are together to talk about life in fashion, the school lu
Bonus: Asparagus
Spring is here, which means it’s asparagus season. In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, we’re joined by The River Cafe executive chefs Sian Wyn Owen and Joseph Trivelli, to discuss their love of asparagus, and how they like to cook with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber
Dara Khosrowshahi is known as one of the world’s most influential CEOs. Everyone wants to talk to him about leading a company as huge, and impactful, as Uber. So do I - but mostly, I want to talk about food: Persian cuisine, memories from his childhood kitchen in Iran, the importance of food when his family fled to America, eating with his father after six years apart, and with his family no
Bonus: Jorge and Paola Ramos on Welcoming Food
Journalists Jorge and Paola Ramos discuss Jorge’s favourite way to welcome Paola home - quesadillas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jorge and Paola Ramos
When I was growing up in the sixties, the United States was a tumultuous place. Journalists were heroes, seeking the truth with courage. So today, when we need them more than ever, it was thrilling to be introduced to two extraordinary journalists: father and daughter, Jorge and Paola Ramos. In their podcast, The Moment, they question, analyse, and report. We are here together to talk about identi
Bonus: Bruce Bozzi On The Magic Of Lasagna
Bruce Bozzi discusses the magic of his mother's lasagna.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bruce Bozzi
A few months ago, I was at Bruce Bozzi's home in Los Angeles. We decided to make a tomato pasta together, and there in the kitchen, we discovered how much we shared. Bruce grew up in an Italian American home, and for many generations, his family co-owned the Palm Restaurant franchise—an American legend. Now, Bruce and I are together again to talk about grandmothers and great-grandfathers, ho
Bonus: Tom Freston On Bartending
Former CEO of MTV Networks, Tom Freston, talks about the joys and the value of bartending. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tom Freston - Co-creator of MTV
Some weeks ago, I met Tom Freston at a party in London. We immediately started talking—mostly about Unplugged, his brilliant new memoir. Unplugged is the story of an incredible man who hitchhiked across the Sahara, lived in Kabul, spearheaded the rise of MTV, and even had lunch with Fidel Castro. Today, here we are: me in London, him in Los Angeles. We'll discuss the adventures from his
Jamie Oliver, Gary Lineker & Seth Doane
A few weeks ago, just hours before the opening of Jamie’s Italian in Leicester Square, Jamie Oliver joined me at The River Cafe to sit, and to talk. We turned on the microphones and, in true Table 4 fashion, were soon joined by more friends around the table - Gary Lineker, the presenter, podcaster, and former footballer, and Seth Doane, the Senior Foreign Correspondent for CBS News. Together
Bonus: Margate, or ‘Traceyville’
Tracey discusses how she’s supporting the creative community in her hometown of Margate. This includes the training café A Perfect Place to Grow, for which she donated the building, and TKE Studios, which provides affordable workspaces, free training, and residencies for emerging artists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dame Tracey Emin
When we first started Ruthie’s Table 4 back in 2021, Tracey Emin was one of the very first people I asked to join me—an artist and a friend I love. A lot has happened since then, and that’s what we’re talking about today: her new blockbuster exhibition A Second Life, the experience of living with an extreme disease, how it has affected her diet, what she’s feeling, an
Bonus: What To Eat When with Sir Sadiq Khan
In this bonus episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, Mayor Sadiq Khan discusses how mayors from all over the world connect, learn from one another, and fight for their cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor Of London
Sir Sadiq Khan, the third and longest governing Mayor in London’s history, sees the dinner table as a place of importance. Today, he is here with me at The River Café, to share memories and stories about his grandparents, his mother’s cooking during Ramadan, the importance of breaking bread, and how the diversity of London’s restaurants reflect the diversity of our c
Bonus: The Cook And The Book
In this bonus excerpt from her conversation with Ashley Baker, Ruthie reflects on the importance of grandparents, and of tradition during the writing of Table 4 at The River Cafe - sharing stories about Great Gerwig, Noah Baumbach and Tom Hollander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Special Episode: The Cook and the Book
In this special episode, Ruthie is joined by her friend and journalist Ashley Baker to take us inside the creation of the new book Table 4 at the River Cafe: Conversations About Food and Life. Join us to revisit some of her most memorable, dazzling conversations and learn what inspired David Beckham, Tina Fey, Paul McCartney, and many more to reveal so much about their lives - and love of a g
Bonus: The Chocolate Nemesis
In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, food writer and dessert connoisseur Aleksandra Crapanzano is joined by executive chef Sian Wynn Owen, to discuss The River Cafe's iconic Chocolate Nemesis. Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information
Aleksandra Crapanzano
Aleksandra Crapanzano is a close friend who has written four fantastic books - The London Cookbook, Eat. Cook. L.A., Gâteau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes, and most recently Chocolat: Parisian Desserts and Other Delights. She’s won the James Beard Foundation M.F.K. Fisher Award for Distinguished Writing and a Gourmand World Cookbook Award. We share so much including a passi
Peter Sarsgaard On Bees And A Bear
In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, actor Peter Sarsgaard explains the joys of beekeeping, as well as the challenges of protecting his hives from hungry bears.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Peter Sarsgaard
I know Peter Sarsgaard as an incredible actor from films and series such as 'Dopesick', 'Shattered Glass', 'The Batman', and most recently, 'The Bride' - a film made by his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal. I also know him as a friend. Today, he's here at the River Cafe, to talk about childhood memories of eating crawdads in Mississippi, hearing his daughter play Tchaikovsky, growing corn outside his gara
Mayor Daniel Lurie
Mayor Daniel Lurie understands what makes a great city. This episode was recorded in his office in the City Hall of San Francisco. We're here to talk about the role of food, memories of his grandmother's meatballs, the diversity of San Francisco's restaurants, and why he thinks he has the best job in politics. Watch this episode, and the rest of the series, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rut
Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
For over 20 years as the head of Qatar Museums, Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has transformed the nation's artistic landscape through landmark institutions such as The Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar. Her work has profoundly influenced the culture and global identity of the Middle East. Today, she’s here at The River Cafe to talk abo
Bonus: Valentine's Day At The River Cafe
Executive chefs Sian Wyn Owen and Joseph Trivelli take us behind the scenes of The River Cafe on Valentine’s Day - how they choose the menus, how to cook their perfect Valentine’s dishes, romantic décor, proposals, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wes Anderson At Gagosian, Paris
My friend Wes Anderson is the director of so many wonderful movies: Rushmore, The French Dispatch, The Grand Budapest Hotel to name a few - and most recently The Phoenician Scheme. Today though, we are sitting in, not watching , Wes's latest work, The House on Utopia Parkway, curated with Jasper Sharp. This is a beautiful recreation of the studio of Joseph Cornell now showing at the Gag
Emerald Fennell
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
Andrew Jarecki
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 doc
Bonus: What’s New At The River Cafe
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jeremy King
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 envis
Bonus: Laurene Powell Jobs In Conversation With Ruthie Rogers & Ed Ruscha
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor
Rt Hon Gordon Brown
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio
Bonus: Gabriela Hearst on running her business
Gabriela and Ruthie discuss their experiences of setting up a business, and the importance of investing in staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gabriela Hearst
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnys
Bonus: Lemons
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Annie Leibovitz
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/Table4AtRiverC
Bonus: Rashida Jones on her father Quincy Jones
Rashida reflects on her father's nocturnal lifestyle, synesthesia and music writing habits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rashida Jones
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.co
Bonus: Christmas At The River Cafe
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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hilton Als
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privac
Bonus: Dame Jacinda Ardern on unexpectedly becoming a world leader
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dame Jacinda Ardern
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnyst
Noah Baumbach on his new movie ‘Jay Kelly’
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gayle King
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/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva
