M
ore than a restauranteur, Meshelle Armstrong is also a community advocate and activist, working to better the city of Alexandria through development and economic growth at the same time as she dedicates herself to giving back. “I pride myself on being an active member of the community,” says Armstrong, who served as a board member for the Restaurant Association of Metro Washington (RAMW) and on the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, which works to strategically support business, expansion and economic advancement in Alexandria. In addition to the accolades she has gained for her restaurants, Armstrong has earned recognition that extends beyond cooking, including the National Restaurant Association’s Neighborhood Community Award, Edible Chesapeake magazine’s Local Hero Award and Washingtonian magazine’s Green Giant Award, given to those who work to protect and preserve the environment. The owner of EatGoodFood Group, Armstrong’s varied culinary concepts include Restaurant Eve, 74 • VIP ALEXANDRIA MAGAZINE
Eamonn’s a Dublin Chipper, Bar PX, Virtue Feed & Grain, the Majestic, TNT Rock & Roll Bar, Society Fair Market & Wine Bar, Hummingbird Kitchen, Kaliwa and the upcoming champagne and sugar boutique, Beauty. A passionate supporter of animal rights, Armstrong was responsible for creating one of the Humane Society’s most successful national marketing campaigns, Chefs for Seals, which enlisted the help and endorsement of such noted celebrities as Paul McCartney. Using her creativity and understanding of the restaurant industry, Armstrong wrote a monthly column called “Back of the House” for Northern Virginia magazine, in which she penned tales of the restaurant scene. She also became a contributing writer to the Huffington Post. As a woman, Armstrong believes that self-advocacy for heart health is incredibly important. “GO RED is crucial to women because it empowers us to be in charge of our own health, which includes heart health,” she says. “We need to be more aware.”
