It’s got to be the original River Cafe Cookbook for me, which also happens to be the first cookbook I ever bought. Flicking through its pages, I’m instantly transported back to my days at the cafe, where under Rose and Ruthie’s magnificently matriarchal tutorage, I was lucky enough to develop my kitchen skills and where, ultimately, I caught my lucky break. I was captivated by Rose and Ruth’s unapologetic desire to source and celebrate the best in seasonal produce, and their love and respect for simple Italian food just built on everything I’d learnt with Gennaro in the years before. It was published back in 1996, but the recipes still feel ever so relevant, and I believe it will stand the test of time, encapsulating so beautifully the very essence of everything the cafe stands for. And it’s a good-looking book, too!
