Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Honors Chef Cathal Armstrong, Local Businesses

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce honored chef Cathal Armstrong, co-owner of Eat Good Food Group, as its 2012 Business Leader of the Year this week.

Armstrong received the distinction Tuesday during the chamber’s annual Business Awards Event at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, presented by the Land Rover of Alexandria. Armstrong was selected for the chamber’s top business award as a result of enormous respect within the business community for his dedication and exemplary leadership, according to a chamber news release.

The Eat Good Food Group is an Alexandria-based restaurant group created by Armstrong and his wife and business partner, Meshelle.

“The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor Chef Cathal Armstrong and include him among the distinguished list of recipients of our annual Business Leader of the Year Award,” Andrew Palmieri, chairman of the chamber board, said in a statement. “Alexandria is extremely fortunate to have a chef and business leader of his caliber based in the City, as he shares his renowned culinary expertise in our community. In addition, our 2012 business award recipients, and all of our nominees, represent a diverse and thriving business community that reflects the City that we serve” 

Outstanding businesses in the following categories also received awards: 

• Association/Nonprofit of the Year: ACT for Alexandria
• Eco-Business of the Year: Marstel Day
• Small Business of the Year: American Advertising Distributors of North America
• Medium Business of the Year: Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union
• Overall Business of the Year: Grant Thornton LLP

After the awards presentation, guests were treated to tastings from Armstrong’s restaurants, including Restaurant Eve, The Majestic, Virtue Feed and Grain, Society Fair, Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper, PX and Bar TNT.

“The professionalism of our event, honorees and the exceptional cuisine brought great excitement to the business community” said John T. Long, chamber president and CEO, in a news release.