Maria Loi

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.