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
Apr 7, 2026 • 37min
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, we discussed the restaurant industry, the podcast industry, Italian food trips, the joy of cooking for family, and the experience of writing cookbooks. 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.
Apr 2, 2026 • 10min
Bonus: Margate, or ‘Traceyville’
In this bonus episode, 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.
Mar 30, 2026 • 35min
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, and what she’s doing. 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.
Mar 27, 2026 • 8min
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.
Mar 24, 2026 • 39min
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 city. 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.
Mar 20, 2026 • 4min
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.
Mar 17, 2026 • 26min
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 good chocolate nemesis. Table 4 at the River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life is out now in the US, and available in the UK from 14th May. Find it in all good bookshops, or order online: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 16, 2026 • 4min
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.
Mar 10, 2026 • 31min
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 passion for good food, our love for cooking for our families and our love for Paris and for each other. 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.
Mar 6, 2026 • 8min
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.
