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Feed your appetite for cooking with Penguin’s expert authors

Table 4 at The River Cafe

Written by

Ruthie Rogers

Published

14 May 2026

Who’s the author? Ruthie Rogers is an award-winning chef and the co-founder of The River Cafe, one of the UK’s most influential restaurants and a London institution, which she set up with the late Rose Gray. Since it was established in 1987, the restaurant has played a pivotal role in defining modern Italian cooking and has trained a generation of talented chefs including Jamie Oliver and  Theo Randall.

Ruthie is also the author of multiple bestselling cookbooks and the host of the acclaimed podcast Ruthie’s Table 4, where she brings together high-profile guests for thoughtful conversations about food and life.

What’s it about? Table 4 at The River Cafe moves beyond recipes to explore the stories, memories and connections that food inspires. Drawing on conversations from Ruthie’s podcast, this book gathers a wide-ranging collection of interviews with figures from across the worlds of film, music, politics and culture including David and Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Wes Anderson, Tracey Emin, Wyclef Jean, Stephen Fry, and Paul McCartney, to name just a few of her many incredible guests.

Through these discussions, Ruthie reveals how food can unlock personal stories and shared experiences, offering fresh insight into the lives of her guests. The result is a rich tapestry of reflections on cooking, eating and gathering – and the role these play in shaping identity and relationships.
Beautifully presented and accompanied by photography, this book is both a celebration of The River Cafe’s enduring legacy and an exploration of the way food brings people together.

Perfect for: Food lovers and culture enthusiasts

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