Valentine's Day Proposal Winner
The long Proposal… Our love story began in April 1986. We fell in love as hard as two young people could fall;every breath seeming to start where the other's would end…Deeply connected and incredibly attached, we were seniors in high school–Michael had post-graduate plans for becoming a pilot in the airforce and I was off to Syracuse University in the fall to begin my career at journalisn school. The summer following high school graduation was drawing to a close and time was winding down to be together, we told our parents of our decisions simply not to go-to the service or away to school. This news to our families was not well received and so off we went as told and back to school and the service-painfully separated. Michael had developed asthma and was sent home before his 6 weeks in Basic were over and I couldnt stay at school with him back at home…we both ended up going to school locally and began the rough terrain of the social life in college. We were very young and didnt truly realize how fortunate we were to find true love at such an early age. As our senior year approached, and I was busy with all sorts of activities, a distance grew between us and our relationship came to a sad close.
Having been treated so well by Michael (he carried my books for me in college from class to class-that's right!), I thought any guy that I went out with and met would be as great as he had been to me-OH HOW WRONG I WAS! Within months, I had realized that I had made the biggest mistake of my life but alas, the Gods were not with me and I was too late. Michael had fallen into a rebound relationship and they were expecting their first child. Devestated by my own youthful stupidity, I was determined to move on with my life and not look back. Well not looking back proved to be too tall an order. I looked back every day for the next 20 years with great regret….Michael never left my heart and I never left his. We never saw one another due to a mutual respect for his life, as it was, and for my own mental health. He wasn't available and I had to get used to it and move on…with a big hole in my heart that never healed, I trudged on went to Graduate School and focused on my friends and my career. I have lived a great life, lots of great times, but never found the one to replace Michael in my heart. Having just ended a 7 year relationship this past year, I found myself on my own and so did Michael.We found one another again,at finally just the right time. It is like a dream come true that he is now with me again with a love that is just as romantic, but now also grounded, as it was when we were kids. He has beautiful children that I am happily building a relationship with and I will be marrying the love of my life in 2010, after 20 years or "degrees" of separation.
Michael proposed this past Christmas day, one day before leaving for a romantic holiday in Paris. My proposal? He made me a promise 23 years ago-with a promise ring that we would marry someday….this promise ring was to be found in 10 boxes of different sizes-one smaller than the other-I opened one after the other after the other-all exquisitely wrapped and prepared with great care. Following our break up, the promise ring, as well as the promise lay dormant, sleeping, in a box of letters and photos, simply entitled "Michael and me." Michael is now fulfilling this promise and prepared my engagement ring in the very same way that he did 23 years ago-one after the other after the other. One knee on Christmas Morning-"After all of our year's of separation,on this Christmas morning in our new beautiful home, in our new beautiful life, to the love of my life, will you be my wife!"
….Happiness is a gift we should all cherish-Our happiness is so precious-I will never take him for granted again…. Thanks for taking the time to read our story. PS I said YES!
Winter Stew DinnerNews
Just When You Thought "The Rue"
Couldn't Get Any Better . . .
NOW OPEN EVERY DAY for BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
RUE BIS
Deb Norman opened another restaurant in the jewelry district in Providence, called RUE BIS, which, translated loosely in French, means "a little bit more Rue."
RUE BIS is a breakfast and lunch bistro
open from 7:30-3:30 Monday thru Friday,
Closed on Saturday & Sunday.
There is both table service and take away gourmet.
RUE BIS is located at 95 South Street
in the historic Jewelry District.
From The Rue on Hope Street:
Head south on Hope St. toward John St.
Turn right at Wickenden St.
Continue on Wickenden over Point St. Bridge.
Turn right at Chestnut Street.
Turn left at South Street.
The Rue's Weekly Stimulus Package
In addition to our regular menu on
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
The Rue offers on each evening,
a different menu to stimulate your buying power.
Basically, menus designed for you to
get more bang for your buck.
Do You Dread Mondays?
Dollar Daze Bar
all items on this menu are $1.00
(with purchase of alcoholic beverage)
only on Mondays,
only in the bar 4:30pm-9:00pm
Menu:
sesame chicken
spicy grilled shrimp kabob
scallop rumaki
seared scallop w/lemon aioli
clam fritter w/remoulade
black angus steak crostini
pizza
lobster crepe
portobello mushroom spring roll
trio of treats
white bean, spinach & dried tomato crostini
fish taco w/ fennel slaw
gooey grilled cheese sandwich
mini lamb sliders
Winter Stew Dinner
On Tuesday Nights
The Rue offers 4 delicious stews
served with a salad menu all for the unbelievable price of 11.99
Choose from chicken pot pie, vegetarian chili, free form lamb shepard's pie
or a traditional tenderloin tip beef stew.
Add a glass of a lovely varietal white or red wine or a glass of craft draft beer
to complement your meal.
Burgers and a Beer 11.99
Wednesday Nights 4:30-9:00
choose one from column A, B & C
and build your own burger
served with any draft beer
and hand cut fries
Column A
100 % organic beef
veggie/tofu burger
tuna burger
lamb burger
turkey burger
Column B
swiss gruyere
cheddar
parmesan
feta
fresh mozzarella
goat cheese
Column C
applewood smoked bacon
sauteed mushroom
caramelized onions
carrot & fennel slaw
oven toasted tomato and black olive pesto
fresh roasted peppers
Thursday & Friday Night
1/2 price appetizers in the bar from 4:30-6:30
Choose from any of our menu selections and bon appetit!
Rue De L'Espoir has gone green. Deb Norman says that after reading how the restaurant industry contributes greatly to our rapidly dwindling eco footprint, she has decided to make Rue De L"Espoir a green restaurant.
The Rue now uses renewable electric energy, solar energy to preheat the hot water, water saving devices in the sinks and water efficient toilets. She is also very proud of the new waterless urinal.
That's right, waterless!
The Rue also uses organic meats and chicken and sustainable produce whenever possible. So now, not only can you get a great meal at The Rue, but you can do it with a eco-friendly conscience.
Gift Certificates
Our gift certificates are a great idea for any special gift occasion such as birthdays, promotions, graduations, thank you's, employee appreciations, and other special occasions.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS in the RECENT PAST
FALL 2006: "The Rue" has changed its dinner menu, offering a NEW PRIX FIXE seven nights a week: includes house salad or soup du jour, chocolate gateau or créme brulee, and an ENTREE of CHOICE. *The Rue supports sustainable farming and cooks with locally grown products whenever possible. Our cooking oils contain no trans fats.
The Rue participated in a special event for Project Aids Rhode Island, called Dine Out Fight Aids. On Thursday, April 27th, we donated 25% of our food total to the Project.
A BEER DINNER was held at the Rue on Feb. 9th, at 6:30 in collaboration wih Dogfish Head Brewery, the fastest growing craft beer brewery in America. See the menu at the following link:
http://beeradvocate.com/events/calendar.php?show=6797
On Monday evening, October 17th, The Rue De L'Espoir held a silent auction, wine tasting fund raiser for the folks and animals left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The two organizers of the benefit, Twillia Glover, catering co-ordinater & general manager of the The Rue, and Merisa Domingues-Marcotte, manager of Rue Bis, The Rue's sister breakfast and lunch bistro on Bassett Street in the jewelry district report that over $2000.00 dollars was raised. The event was well attended and fun was had by all. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event a great success.
On Saturday night, October 22nd, Deborah Norman, owner of Rue De L'Espoir was the honorary chair at Tockwotten Home's annual fund raiser. The Rue has been preparing special meals for the folks at this assisted living facility located in the Fox Point section of Providence for over 10 years.
MEMBERS OF PROVIDENCE'S DYNAMIC SMALL BUSINESSES JOINED FORCES TO SPONSER THE THIRD ANNUAL "HEARTS OF GOLD" EXTRAVAGANZA SEPT. 13TH, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROVIDENCE RONALD MACDONLD HOUSE. THE PRHM PROVIDES A HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN RECEIVING TREATMENT AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. IN ADDITION TO WONDERFUL CHOCOLATES, WINE PAIRINGS AND EXQUISITE JEWELRY, "THE RUE" DONATED A HOME COOKED MEAL AT THE PRHM TO BE BID ON AT THE AUCTION.
The Rue was selected by the Providence Warwick Visitors Convention Bureau to represent Providence in New York City on April 21, at the Rainbow Room at an event promoting the city of Providence to New York media. One of 20 delegates, Deb Norman and her Rue crew served their very popular Lobster Macaroni and Cheese to about 200 media pros from magazines such as Food & Wine, Cosmopolitan, Metropolitan Life, Food Arts, Bon Appetit, and Zagat, just to name a few.
On Sunday April 17th, Deb Norman was showcased on a local TV show called "TV MaitreD" with Joe Zito.
Rue De L'Espoir was written up in the New York Times issue dated October 3, in the Escapes section titled: "36 Hours in Rhode Island." The article selected "The Rue" as THE place to go for A GREAT BREAKFAST; and mentioned the GOOD OLD FASHIONED PANCAKES and RUE MELT DJ.
Deb Norman was interviewed on the WPRO Radio Sunday Show "The Good Life" with Steve Kass and his lovely wife, Debbie Morray. The program airs every Sunday at 11:00 AM. Discussed was the fact that "The Rue" is a white-tablecloth restaurant that not only serves lunch but breakfast as well–viturally unheard of in the industry.
