Maria Loi(I)
- Actress
Maria is a former Public Affairs Specialist
and Lobbyist. She has successfully undertaken projects for
multinational conglomerates such as the energy giant Texaco; the
telecommunication pioneer Nokia; the Sheraton Hotel chain; and Net Hold
International. A born businesswoman, she owns a gourmet restaurant in
idyllic Nafpaktos, Greece; designs her own line of home electrical
micro appliances and dinnerware under her name brand; and is a founding
partner in a clothing business representing international fashion
firms. As a result of her innovative spirit and strong desire to
explore new frontiers, Maria moved on from her exemplary lobbying
career to pursue her real passion of cooking with enormous new success.
Naturally, Maria decided to further establish her new ventures by doing
what she does best: strategic expansion. Tireless Maria is also heavily
involved in philanthropic causes. She is one of the core founders of
Elpida, a foundation for children stricken with cancer. Nowadays, she
oversees a scholarship fund that helps underprivileged young adults to
obtain a valuable college education in major universities of Europe and
the United States. Maria also gets involved in fund raising for various
worthy causes such as Volunteers of America, C-CAP and the Center for
Discovery. A strong proponent of the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle,
Maria writes and speaks publicly about Greek cuisine and culture. She
has appeared on food shows such as Taste of the Nation, Aspen Food and
Wine Festival, James Beard Chefs and Champagne, Meatball Madness and
New York Food and Wine Festival. In October of 2011, she opened Loi,
her restaurant on the Upper West Side in New York City. She has
garnered favorable reviews from New York Magazine, Zagat and the
Michelin Guide. She has appeared on Good Day New York with Rosanna
Scotto and Greg Kelly, CBS Morning Show, CBS 2 with Tony Tantillo, Not
My Mama's Meal with Bobby Deen, ABC's Good Morning America, and CBS'
The Couch with Alex Denis. Maria has performed cooking demonstrations
at Williams Sonoma, taught a cooking class at the legendary De Gustibus
Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square, and been a guest chef at the
James Beard House. In March of 2012 she spent three days cooking at the
White House. Last year she completed the filming of her new cooking
series Cooking at Loi that is currently airing on PBS stations
nationwide.