Chef Maria Loi, a Greek Treasure
If one wants to get to know more about Greek food, then one should meet Chef Maria Loi at her restaurant, Loi Estiatorio, or buy her products. We saw Maria Loi and her talented staff at the 2019 Specialty Food Show. Besides running a booth, she spoke about Greek cuisine.
Her restaurant, Loi Estiatorio, is on 132 W. 58th between 7th and 8th Avenues. It is worth to go with their fresh food and her homemade dips and pasta.
Her Loi Ladi, old-extracted extra virgin olive oil from Greece, was a 2019 Sofi Award New Product Winner.
Some of us tasted her delicious garlic-potato dip, smoked eggplant, and feta yogurt pougi from Greece at her restaurant. We also tried her Loi Meli Honey from Greece, like Wild Forest Black Honey and Wild Thyme & Flower Honey.
There is a very reasonable three-course price-fixe menu with some dishes with a supplemental charge from Monday thru Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. One can start with the Chicken Soup consisting of chicken, onion, celery, carrot, egg, and lemon. The grilled Octopus is another greater starter with octopus, red wine, onions, bell peppers, capers, and fava purée.
Then for the main course for lunch, one can have Loi Orzo with slow-cooked beef, tomato, and Myzithra.
There is more selection on the dinner menu. If you like fish tartare, then you would enjoy their Salmon Tartare with salmon, shredded phyllo, horseradish, lemon, shallots, chives, yogurt, and dill. There are also village specialties like Eggplant Casserole with eggplant, slow-cooked beef, tomato, onion, and béchamel. For lamb lovers, there is Lamb Shank with tomato, onion, red wine, lamb jus, and Loi orzo. For seafood lovers, there is their Seafood Orzo consisting of the chef’s seafood selection, tomato, onion, garlic, feta, and Loi orzo. There are also very tasty desserts to finish like the Ekmek Kadaifi consisting of Shredded Phyllo, Custard, Cinnamon, Whipped Cream, and Almonds.
Maria is the author of more than 36 cookbooks, and over 150 magazine editions. Her book on ancient Greek dining was the only official cookbook of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Her latest book, “The Greek Diet,” was written with veteran health journalist and athlete Sarah Toland. They have 100 healthy, authentic Greek recipes that use delicious unprocessed ingredients. She also owns an exquisite gourmet restaurant in idyllic Nafpaktos and has a line of Maria Loi dinnerware and kitchen appliances.
The Chef’s Club of Greece, a worldwide culinary organization, has recognized her as the Global Ambassador of Greek Gastronomy. In June of 2016, she was unanimously re-elected for a second term as the official Ambassador.
In March 2012, Maria was invited to cook for President Obama, Vice President Biden, and 250 honored guests at the White House. Chef Loi was invited as one of America’s top six female chefs by Fortune Magazine and the James Beard Foundation to the 2014 “Fortune: The Most Powerful Women Summit.”
She also gives back and is active in charities and causes. Chef Loi is founder of Elpida (the Greek word meaning “hope”), a foundation to support children with cancer. She also oversees a fund that grants university scholarships to underprivileged students.Chef Loi also works closely with The Center for Discovery and their Department of Nourishment Arts as a DaVinci Master Chef.
More about Chef Loi and her restaurant can be found at loiestiatorio.com.
