Chef Maria Loi spent her birthday cooking— not for a party she was throwing in her own honor… but for some of New York City’s most disadvantaged people.
Through the Citymeals program which provides food for elderly and disabled people unable to leave their homes, the Greek-born celebrity chef prepared dozens of wholesome Greek meals and spent the day personally the food to dozens of New Yorkers in her neighborhood.
“I wanted to share Greek food with these wonderful people and I couldn’t think of a better day than on my birthday,” Loi told The Pappas Post.
“For me, it’s about having gratitude for the additional year God has given me and I felt the need to share this gratitude with my neighbors in NYC, many of whom are confined to their homes because of age or illness.”
Loi, who owns Loi Estiatorio in Midtown Manhattan and has several of her eponymous products in area Whole Foods Markets, met dozens during her special birthday but one woman in particular will remain in her heart and mind.
She met 91 year old Lysange (Photo, above), a former restaurant owner.
The two chatted for a while about how the restaurant business has changed over the years then, they swapped recipes for their favorite orzo dishes.
Photo provided by Citymeals.
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