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 garage, and the importance of performance.

Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook

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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.

Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook

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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 about her own vision of museums, her childhood memories of cooking in the desert, the cuisine of her region , and how she views food and art, food and culture, food and family.

Watch this episode, and the rest of the series, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthiesTable4Pod

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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.

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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 Gagosian Gallery in Paris.

There is a strong connection between the curator and the artist, and Wes and I will talk about creating intriguing art, cooking delicious food, and making extraordinary movies.

Watch this episode, and the rest of the series, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthiesTable4Pod

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of fish and chips with her parents, the joy of cookies from her children, and much more.

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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 documentary, relocating to Rome and rediscovering Italian food, and the importance of finding optimism in his films.

Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/Table4AtRiverCafeBook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.