A few months ago, I shared a panel with Vanessa Kingori, celebrating International Women's Day. Listening to Vanessa, it became apparent that it really wasn't necessary for me to be there. It was her views on social justice, women in business, creativity and leadership that everybody wanted to hear. Most of all, me. 

Her path towards Chief Business Officer of Condé Nast International is a story of a young girl from Kenya climbing heights in a British world through sheer intelligence, motivation and determination. This we all know. But for me, the revelation was Vanessa talking about the food of her family, her culture, and especially the cooking of her grandmother. 

Today we will hear more about memory and food, change and connectivity. As always, I will listen to Vanessa with awe, respect, and admiration.

For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to:

Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For any podcast enquires please contact: willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv">willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of my most cherished possessions is a River Cafe menu with the word YUM painted on it by Ed Ruscha. Ed is an artist, friend - and cook, but we really bond over words; words as art, words as books, words as recipes, words as love. Our worlds and words converged recently when he had an exhibition at the Tate and The National Gallery - a first for an artist. We celebrated with lunches, dinners and breakfasts together. 

Ed has a little garden behind his studio in California, its conditions are dry and dessert like, but he grows the most amazing fruits and vegetables there. He is the first guest on Table 4 to bring his own recipe to read – a cactus omelette. We will discuss art and food, food and YUM.

For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to:

Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For any podcast enquires please contact: willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv">willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Mann and I met through architecture. On a trip to London about 25 years ago, he asked to visit the Lloyd's Building, designed by my husband, Richard Rogers. For us, it was an honour. For if Michael was a fan of Richard's architecture, Richard was a huge fan of Michael's movies. In fact, when watching Ali, Miami Vice or Collateral, my arm would be constantly squeezed.

Not due to a dramatic moment of fear or tension or mystery, but at the way the buildings, streets, airports, bridges and interiors, even elevators, were portrayed on screen. Over long dinners, Richard and Michael often compared making a movie to making a building. Michael once said, ‘Well, at least, Richard, in a building, you can say to a client, if you remove a column, the building will fall down. Try saying that about a scene to a producer.’ 

Of all the movies Michael has made, though, the one that I consider the greatest is 60 seconds long, shot entirely underwater in a swimming pool. Michael and his wife, Summer, with their children, swimmingly, wishing a happy birthday to Richard. No architecture in this movie—just love.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, listen to The 2000-Year-Old Man, read his autobiography, All About Me, and you will know why. But for me, having known Mel for 25 years, ‘funny’ is not the first word I would use to describe this extraordinary man.

Fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren, the first one to pick up a phone to a friend in trouble, refusing an award in opposition to the Iraq War and waiting to accept it later from President Obama. To Mel, food and wine are crucial—many of his life's important moments occurred in restaurants. And, as for wine, he will tell you himself. Today at his home we are together. Lucky me.

We're going to talk about movies, family, memories and more. And be prepared to laugh because Mel Brooks is indeed funny.For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to:

Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For any podcast enquires please contact: willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv">willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were in London in November 2020, then you might have been, as I was, lucky to see ‘Fly in a League with the Night’ by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye at the Tate Britain. A retrospective of 70 of her works from 2003 to the present. Forced to close after two weeks due to the pandemic, the show reopened in November 2022 - the first time the museum has done this.

Lynette is a writer, a painter, and as I discovered, a magical baker. Today, after a visit to the pastry kitchen, we’re here to talk about writing, painting & cooking - all the ingredients to make something beautiful.

For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to:

Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For any podcast enquires please contact: willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv">willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Austin Butler is a winner. He beats me at cards, knows how to cook a wild salmon on the grill, and when we had a dinner every Sunday night for a year always arrived with a new book he was reading, a piece of pottery he’d made or a rare bottle of tequila.  We first recorded this podcast in 2021 but wanted to play it for you again in case you hadn’t heard it – it's one of my favourites, just like Austin.

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, 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 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/ruthiestable4

Facebook: gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For any podcast enquires please contact: willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv">willem.olenski@atomizedstudios.tv

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most nights, Jimmy Fallon and I have somewhat similar jobs. We’re both hosts, after all—Jimmy on The Tonight Show, me at The River Cafe. We both welcome guests and want them to feel at home. Of course, Jimmy’s reach is far greater than mine. I look after 180 people, Jimmy, 1.8 million. As a chef, my hosting is done through cooking; Jimmy sings dances and makes people laugh and open up in conversation.Last November, in New York, I met with Jimmy at 30 Rock talking about memories and cooking. We sang a song and even found out we grew up in towns close by. A chef and a star, joined by the joy of food and each other.

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, 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 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 eu.mimecast.com/s/pDySCWoZiyYBZZf6INAX/">https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/

Web: eu.mimecast.com/s/lMXACXp1TMNYjjHVBkvy/">https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: eu.mimecast.com/s/Dx8MC132hEmYxxfYbNfo">www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: eu.mimecast.com/s/uXCuCYq2C6ZxmmS9JQ1m/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the years in The River Cafe, I’ve witnessed the spell-binding effect an athlete can have. None of us are able to do what they do, and we all know it. There are many, many images of John McEnroe on the tennis court, but the one I recall is not athletic, but artistic. It's a photograph of John, in fact, almost cradling a painting by Philip Guston, who was a close friend of my father and mother.

It was moving to see a strong, powerful athlete I admire carrying something so fragile. Today in New York City, John has walked across Central Park from his home and, in the fading autumn light, we will talk about the food we eat, the art we love, and the friendship the we, the tennis player and a cook, have begun.

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, 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 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 eu.mimecast.com/s/pDySCWoZiyYBZZf6INAX/">https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/

Web: eu.mimecast.com/s/lMXACXp1TMNYjjHVBkvy/">https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: eu.mimecast.com/s/Dx8MC132hEmYxxfYbNfo">www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: eu.mimecast.com/s/uXCuCYq2C6ZxmmS9JQ1m/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2014, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg opened an exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London. His speech at the Pavilion, to about 300 people, urged us all to support the arts and true to his word, he has done just that.

What I found most memorable about the speech was the ending  “Come to New York City” he said, “and if you want to have coffee or lunch, just call me, this is my number.”

I did go there soon after, number in hand but never made that call, something I'll always regret. But here I am almost ten years later, having the coffee with Mike Bloomberg – founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies - ready to talk. 

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 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 eu.mimecast.com/s/pDySCWoZiyYBZZf6INAX/">https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/

Web: eu.mimecast.com/s/lMXACXp1TMNYjjHVBkvy/">https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: eu.mimecast.com/s/Dx8MC132hEmYxxfYbNfo">www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4Facebook: eu.mimecast.com/s/uXCuCYq2C6ZxmmS9JQ1m/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If food is love, and love is food, for Valentine's Day we are dedicating this episode of Ruthie's Table 4, by talking to the chefs, managers, waiters, bartenders, gardeners, shop staff and a few of our previous guests to the role food plays  in celebrating love.

Thank you to: Olivia, Nick, Stephen, Christophe, Kitty, David Beckham, Joseph, Ricci, Lily, Tabby, Alex, Imogen, Tate, Gwynth Paltrow, Jacqui, Bob, Sylwia, Aleks, Jake Gyllenhaal, Otto, Sofia, Nancy Pelosi, Jess, Sian, Yban, Rosie, Ceci, Shula, Hebe, Jemi and everyone else from the River Café community who shared their stories with us.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

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 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 eu.mimecast.com/s/pDySCWoZiyYBZZf6INAX/">https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/

Web: eu.mimecast.com/s/lMXACXp1TMNYjjHVBkvy/">https://rivercafe.co.uk/Instagram: eu.mimecast.com/s/Dx8MC132hEmYxxfYbNfo">www.instagram.com/ruthiestable4

Facebook: eu.mimecast.com/s/uXCuCYq2C6ZxmmS9JQ1m/">https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.