Canada may not be my home and native land, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get excited about the new Canadian celebrity chef invasion happening at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ) this summer. More than a dozen new restaurants will open up in Terminals 1 and 3 in 2014 and they’ll be backed by illustrious names like Susur Lee, Lynn Crawford, and Roger Mooking. That’s not all, folks. Zane Caplansky will be offering traditional Jewish deli fare at Caplansky’s Deli and modernist chef John Placko is getting in on the action, too. They’ll even have a Middle Eastern option that’s certified halal. Sounds good, eh? Check out the press release excerpt below and get ready for some quality munching in the Great White North.

Per HMSHost:

Celebrity chef and celebrated cookbook author Lynn Crawford is partnering with HMSHost to open The Hearth, featuring Chef Lynn Crawford’s flavourful creations of hearth-fired flatbreads, fresh salads, sandwiches and small plates. Lynn is chef-owner of Ruby Watchco, a market-inspired, comfort food restaurant in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood which has garnered critical acclaim as one of the best new restaurants in the country. Lynn was the first Canadian female invited to participate in the Food Network’s Iron Chef America, and continued the competition on Top Chef Masters Season Five. Lynn also stars in the Food Network Canada show, Pitchin’ In, nominated for a Gemini Award in 2010 and 2011, and makes regular appearances on such shows as Restaurant Makeover, Top Chef Canada, Chopped Canada, and The Marilyn Denis Show, among numerous others.

Internationally acclaimed Master Chef Susur Lee, praised as one of the “Ten Chefs of the Millennium†by Food & Wine magazine, is joining HMSHost to open Asian Kitchen by Susur Lee. Known for his range of unique techniques from classical French to traditional Chinese, Susur will marry his famous culinary creations to develop bistro style entrees with modern Asian and French influences. Winner of the CAA Five Diamond Award, Cannes, France; the American Academy of Hospitality Services 5 Diamond Award (selected as one of the “World’s Best Chefsâ€); and countless other recognitions; and featured on shows Top Chef Canada, Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef America, among other fan favourites, Susur will be a major attraction at Toronto Pearson. Travellers from all over the world will recognize his work from having experienced his street side restaurants such as Bent and Lee, both in Toronto, and TungLok Heen at Hotel Michael in Singapore.

HMSHost has partnered with Toronto celebrity chef, television host and cookbook author Roger Mooking to present travellers with Twist, a “global twist†on locally sourced North American comfort foods with menu items created by Roger such as Splat Scones, made with Devonshire cream, lavender honey, and peameal bacon; and the Roasted Cornish Hen—Moroccan spice rub, charred lemon and arugula. Roger is host and co-creator of the internationally broadcast television series Everyday Exotic, and has published an award- winning cookbook based on the show. He is also co-host of Heat Seekers on Food Network and host of Man Fire Food on the Cooking Channel. Roger has amassed multiple accolades such as The Maverick Chef Award and Premiers Award, as well as numerous “Best Of†lists. His extraordinary culinary talent has also secured him a spot as a recurring judge on Chopped Canada, and lead appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Marilyn Denis Show, Top Chef Canada and Iron Chef, as well as food and wine shows globally.

The new culinary lineup continues with HMSHost and Paramount Fine Foods presenting Paramount, a Middle Eastern restaurant featuring the freshest Ontario barbeque grilled halal meats, and favourites such as shawarma made with exotic spices, freshly baked pita bread, hummus, sandwiches and pizza, among additional Middle Eastern dishes. Paramount brings to the group the expertise of its CEO Mohamad Fakih, who has led the brand’s successful expansion to now also include Paramount Butcher Shop and Fresh East, with a total of six restaurants. Paramount at Toronto Pearson will be featured at two locations—one in Terminal 1 pre-security and the second in Terminal 3 post-security.