[Ideas] Ruth Rogers: A River Café Story

Ruth Rogers, world renowned chef, author, entrepreneur and co-founder of Michelin starred River Café (London) talks of her experiences, food and life. More than a River Café story!

ABOUT

Ruth Rogers is a chef and co-founder of the River Café restaurant in London. She was born in Woodstock, USA, moved to London in 1967 to study graphic design – and never left. Having had no formal training as a chef, she opened the River Café with the late Rose Gray in 1987. The River Café developed a strong reputation for the seasonality and quality of its food, and its intense focus on authentic Italian cuisine. Ruth and Rose won a Michelin star for their rustic Italian cooking in 1997 and have sold more than a million copies of their recipe books. The restaurant has trained a series of successful chefs, including Jamie Oliver, April Bloomfield, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and Theo Randall. Ruth Roger is the wife of architect Richard Rogers.

Wednesday 13 April 12.30-2.00PM Lunch Talk

While in Brussels, Ruth Rogers talked to Brussels’ entrepreneurs about business and entrepreneurship. Ruth Rogers remains an exception in the mostly male-dominated restaurant industry. What’s the key to her success? Starting literally from zero? Being a rule-breaker? Unusually for the restaurant world, she employs an equal number of men and women in the kitchen and keeps distance from a pervasive macho, aggressive culture. Today, her restaurant, The River Café, has a reputation for breaking down barriers and redefining what it means to be a chef. Her story resonates across female entrepreneurs worldwide.

GOOD READS 

River Cafe Cook Book Easy (2013).

The River Cafe Classic Italian Cookbook (2009).

The River Cafe Cook Book (1996).

KEY LINKS

www.rivercafe.co.uk