River Cafe Ruth
Back when Ruth Rogers started her restaurant, The River Cafe in London, things were different. For a start, female chefs were such a rare breed that the only available chef’s uniform came in men’s sizes. Rogers opened The River Cafe alongside her pal, Rose Gray. At the time, restaurants were either shabby or so posh it was hard to relax. During one visit to a restaurant, Rogers remembers, ”the waiter came out with a knife because we were half an hour late”.
The River Cafe is now 30 years old, and restaurants have changed. More people than ever are pursuing jobs as chefs, and The River Cafe has an attractive reputation. It is, after all, where Jamie Oliver started out. So what does Rogers look for in an employee? ”Curiosity,” she says.