Rose Gray of The River Cafe has died

I am so sad to hear that Rose Gray has died of cancer at the age of 71.  In my expense-account days in the TV industry in London, I would eat often at the River Cafe.  I can remember the first time I went there – it was so novel to have an Italian restaurant that was modern, classy and the food wasn’t the stodgy standard-fare of London’s traditional Italian restaurants.  Rose and her partner Ruth Rogers inspired and nurtured so many great chefs through the River Cafe kitchen.

I have bought and loved the cookbooks that Rose and Ruth produced.  Their recipes were so simple, fresh and always delicious. Rose will be sorely missed in London and by lovers of simple Italian food everywhere.