The White House honors Chef Cathal Armstrong as a 'Champion of Change'

“All across the country ordinary Americans are doingextraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate,out-educate andout-build the rest of the world.” - The White House.

On April 22nd, the White House honored Dublin native Chef Cathal Armstrong (RestaurantEve) as one of these ‘champions of change.’

Under President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative(whitehouse.gov/champions), the White House features a group of Americans whocontinue to ‘Innovate, Educate, and Build’ throughout their respectivecommunities. In honor of this recognition, the Office of Public Engagementhosted an event at the White House to commend Armstrong and like mindedindividuals who promote empowerment and inspiration. Armstrong stood amongchefs and nutrition specialists with shared goals to innovate their localcommunities through projects including the healthy schools initiative.

In the summer of 2010, after being invited by White HouseChef Sam Kass, to tour the kitchen of a local DC elementary school, Armstrongcreated the non-profit Chefs as Parents (www.chefsasparents.com), anorganization dedicated to improving school lunch for America’s children. Armstrongbelieves, “One change to one dish everyday will make a massive impact.”

A 2011 James Beard nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, and aboard member of Fresh Farm Markets (which operates eight farmers' markets inthe Chesapeake Bay region), Armstrong’s role consistently expands far beyond thekitchen. His devotion to the ideals of environmentalism, health, andconservation has led him to lecture abroad at the request of the US StateDepartment and to recreate Mrs. Obama’s garden at Ireland’sBloom Festival, (Europe’s largesthorticultural festival) where he demonstrated the joys and benefits of “growingyour own.”

“I was extremely honored and humbled to receive thisrecognition from The White House,” says Chef Armstrong. “I hope through Chefsas Parents and other my community involvements I can continue to use my role asa chef to give back.”

How Amstrong thinks it can work: WhiteHouse Video

Or on NewYork Grub Street.