Sep 8, 2014

HMSHost and Paramount Fine Foods Open First of Two Locations at Toronto Pearson International Airport

TORONTO—Toronto Pearson International Airport is set for a restaurant renaissance over the next year with several new dining options scheduled to open by global restaurateur HMSHost. Local favorite Paramount Fine Foods, in partnership with HMSHost, has opened the first of two locations coming to Toronto Pearson.

Paramount Fine Foods adds a new dimension to the dining scene at Toronto Pearson with fresh, healthy, high quality and certified halal Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine—an experience that travelers won’t find in most airports. The first Paramount Fine Foods is located pre-security in Terminal 1, with the second location to open post-security in Terminal 3 in Spring of 2015.

“I am exceedingly happy to have the opportunity to bring Paramount Fine Foods and our Middle Eastern cuisine to hungry travelers at Toronto Pearson. Our halal food is a healthy, quick and tasty option for the thousands of visitors and locals who walk through the halls of Toronto’s largest airport,” said Paramount Fine Foods CEO Mohamad Fakih. “We look forward to the new expansion of Paramount and are excited to have teamed up with HMSHost. They have been great partners and carry the same beliefs toward quality and standards that have made us so successful on the street.”

Paramount was founded on serving the best fresh and healthy Middle Eastern cuisine around. Baked pita served straight from the oven, charcoal barbecued halal meats cooked to order, chicken and beef shawarma with exotic spices, and a variety of Manakeesh, a flat-bread style dish with various toppings, are just a few of the highlights from a diverse and original menu that was created from recipes that have been passed on through generations. Passengers at Toronto Pearson will be able to taste the difference that Paramount’s authentic recipes provide, creating a dining experience that will leave them coming back for more.

“Bringing an exciting range of dining options to our diverse guests is a top priority at Toronto Pearson,” said Howard Eng, GTAA President and CEO. “Our goal is to offer passengers a variety of restaurants, provide high quality options, and deliver local flavours and familiar brands. Paramount does just that with its authentic fresh and healthy Middle-Eastern cuisine priced to match its restaurants in the city.”

This is the seventh restaurant that Paramount Fine Foods has opened with the expertise of Mohamad Fakih. The brand has been extremely popular in the Toronto area since its beginning, earning Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in Ontario in 2010, as well as Best Restaurant in Toronto in 2012.

“We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Mohamad and Paramount Fine Foods to bring their unique and innovative culinary creations to the travelers at Toronto Pearson,” said Amy Dunne, Vice President of Business Development at HMSHost. “Mohamad and the Paramount team have done an outstanding job growing their brand in the Toronto area and we are confident that it will be just as well-received by travelers.”

Paramount is one of several new restaurants that HMSHost is bringing to travelers at Toronto Pearson over the next year. Some of the other highlights include The Hearth by Lynn Crawford; LEE Kitchen by Susur Lee; Twist by Roger Mooking; and Caplansky’s Deli and Caplansky’s Snack Bar, in partnership with Zane Caplansky. HMSHost will also open Bar 120: Cuisine Transformed with a menu developed by Modern Culinary Academy chef John Placko.