EMOTIONAL TIES Ruth Rogers reveals the stories behind her most precious possessions - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Celebrity EMOTIONAL TIES Ruth Rogers reveals the stories behind her most precious possessions By You Magazine - September 23, 2018 From her activist past to the secret of her perfect pasta sauce, River Café chef Ruth Rogers reveals the stories behind her most precious possessions. Chris O’Donovan Chris O’Donovan My husband Richard and I have been going to Mexico for Christmas since 1990. We always seek out beautiful folk art creatures such as this giraffe to bring home. We love everything about the country – its architecture, colour, people, food and energy. Chris O’Donovan I cherish the simplicity of these necklaces – one was from my son Roo, with my son Bo’s name after he died suddenly in 2011. The one with the blue rectangle is from my friend Kadee Ribbons, who I’ve known since we were 18, growing up in New York. I never take them off. Chris O’Donovan This photograph of me at 18 was taken on a protest in Trafalgar Square in 1968. It was a very political time with the Vietnam war and civil unrest in Paris. I’d just arrived from the U.S and protesting with fellow Americans felt like a unifying thing to do. Chris O’Donovan I’m never without a jar of Paolo Petrilli organic tomatoes from Puglia and a bottle of the river café’s olive oil, which we source from the same estate where we buy our wine in tuscany. Nothing beats slow-cooked tomatoes for making the ultimate pasta sauce. Chris O’Donovan As a family we’ve travelled everywhere, from Greece and Rri Lanka to Fiji and Morocco. Being together in a foreign place creates a great bond. We plan our next journey on the way back from the last one – nothing beats getting on a plane or boat for a new adventure. Chris O’Donovan I keep this Russian porcelain skater girl, a recent gift from Roo, next to my bed. She’s a reminder of the positive presence of the 13 grandchildren (aged three months to 22) in our lives. I constantly learn from them – they teach me to sing, I teach them to cook. Chris O’Donovan My Italian mother-in-law Dada not only taught Richard and me to cook, she also took up pottery and made us these beautiful vessels. They’re so architectural in themselves – we’ve displayed them in groups on a long shelf in the living room, mixed in with works of art and artifacts. Chris O’Donovan My team gave me this special chef’s jacket last year to celebrate 30 years of the River Café, which I started with my friend, the late Rose Gray. It signifies how lucky I am to have the people I work with and how those who eat at the restaurant are like family. The River Café’s three limited-edition gift boxes (filled with specially selected Italian ingredients, including Ruth’s favourite organic tomatoes and olive oil, pictured above, wines and kitchen accessories), from £250, are available to order now from rivercafe.co.uk and [email protected] Interview by Fiona McCarthy RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR 50 of the best celebrity Halloween costumes of all time Shirley Ballas ‘ Strictly gave me back my hope’ Davina McCall discusses how men can help women going through the menopause Popular in Celebrity TV chef Gino D Acampo on Sardinia Sophia Loren and scary salads May 25, 2017 The Evergreen Goddess Exercise guru Diana Moran on looking fit and July 10, 2017 More more Julianne Moore November 13, 2017 Author Jill Mansell on designer notebooks commissioning art and the family January 16, 2018 EMOTIONAL TIES Kelly Hoppen on vodka vintage finds and being a April 4, 2018 ‘ I have no regrets’ Millie Mackintosh on divorce debt and reuniting May 20, 2018 EMOTIONAL TIES TV presenter and tennis player Annabel Croft shares her July 1, 2018 Stella Parton ‘ Dolly and I have always been close’ August 12, 2018 Anna Friel on getting jeered in the street shared parenting with September 23, 2018 Queen of primetime Charlotte Riley on juggling rising stardom with pregnancy October 21, 2018 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved