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World of Flavours: Middle Eastern Cuisine in Edmonton

Like many cities in Canada, Edmonton has a very diverse population.  As of 2016, more than 23,000 people of Arabic descent call Edmonton home bringing with them exciting culture that includes truly fantastic food!  There are so many establishments in the city that feature this cuisine that we simply can’t list them all, so today, we’ve chosen four to share with you.

Al Salam Bakery and Restaurant

Do you like the smell of freshly baked bread?  If so, you’re in luck!  The glorious scent greets you at the doors of Al Salam.  This restaurant/bakery/mini-grocery is an excellent spot for an authentic middle eastern meal.  We recommend the chicken shawarma wrap, or a falafel wrap, with a basket of fries, but all the items on the menu are all tasty and prepared daily.  Get some of those freshly baked pitas for the road, too. 

Taste of Lebanon

At Taste of Lebanon, owner Sam Tabet brings all the goodness of the Lebanese family table to you!  Try their signature Mezze (meaning different small dishes as an appetizer) for a taste of a many different specialty recipes.  The Mezze includes fattoush (a salad of veggies and crispy pita pieces), hummus, baba ganoush, various meats, pickles, pita and more.  While there, visit the deli area for take home items like Lebanese olives, roasted nuts and cheeses. 

Jerusalem Shawarma

Well established over a decade with 10 locations across Calgary, Jerusalem Shawarma has now opened their first Edmonton location.  The menu is vast with choices from meat platters, wraps, wrap combos, full trays of different meats, sides and salads.  The business, which was started by a family of 6 brothers who immigrated to Canada in 2012, makes all the dishes by following their grandfather’s traditional recipes so the food is as close to the real thing as you can get. 

Happy Camel

The delicious middle eastern dips and salads that have made the Happy Camel famous started out being sold at farmer’s markets around the city in 1998.  The Happy Camel has held a permanent location in the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market for several years and, in addition, sells their products from their own factory store as well as at various markets and shops around the city.  The product line up has pita breads, dips and salads all packaged with their signature happy camel icon, also known as “Carl”.

Originally started by Edmonton locals Gerald and Sarah Larson, the business is now run by Ron and Mary Ann Korn but the quality and flavours that Edmontonians have loved for more than 20 years remain the same.

Which of your favourites should be on the list?  Share with us in the comments so that everyone can enjoy!  

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Terms and Conditions

The “1,2, 3 Pick Your Rewards”, Terms and Conditions and Blackout Dates 

Rewards Program campaign dates

Reward package available to book from January 5, 2022 for stays to December 31, 2024 for rewards except for possible blackout dates. At present there are no blackout dates scheduled.

Rewards are subject to while supplies last.  Substitutions of equivalent kind, value may be made as necessary.  Rewards are non-transferable, no cash value, no cash back.

  • Rewards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, have no cash value, no cash back.
  • Rewards cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
  • Reward deal is net non-commissionable.

Blackout dates

At present there are no blackout dates scheduled. 

In the event blackout dates are scheduled, any guest who makes a booking for a hotel stay during the blackout period prior to the blackout period being named will receive the rewards they are booked for. 

Rewards Program offerings

Book one night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of three $50 rewards excluding blackout dates:

  • $50 Gas Card or
  • $50 Prepaid Mastercard, or
  • $50 Ultimate Dining Card

Book two night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of five reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • $150 prepaid MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 Ultimate Dining Card, or

Book three night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of four reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard
  • Three Night Reward 3: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

One choice of reward per stay. 

Guest must be 18 years of age or older at time of redemption. 

Prepaid Mastercard’s can be used for online purchases only. In Canada, prepaid Mastercard’s cannot be used at any retail outlet (including your hotel) with point-of-sale systems.

Rewards distribution

Rewards will be emailed directly to guests within 48 hours of Edmonton’s Best Hotels confirming their check-in.  Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk.   All rewards are sent electronically. 

Reservations

Guest must reserve a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.

Rewards are NOT available for reservations made less than 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Reservations made directly with hotels and not through Edmonton’s Best Hotels are not eligible for rewards. No exceptions. Rewards are only provided to guests who book through Edmonton’s Best Hotels online booking platform.  Booking reservation confirmations will have Edmonton’s Best Hotels branding on them. Rewards not provided for hotel reservations during specified blackout dates.

Reservations cannot be extended by hotels for additional rewards.

Guests may add a night to an existing one-night deal reservation and receive additional rewards if the request is made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Booking terms and conditions

Rewards provided for more than one night, must be for consecutive nights under one registration under one name at one property. In addition, no more than up to three consecutive nights will be honoured. If a guest checks in for three days and then checks out and re-checks in for the next day, this is considered a consecutive night booking even if the second booking is made at different hotel.  

There must be a minimum of three days between bookings.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) is considered a double booking and only one of those bookings will be eligible for rewards. For example, if a guest books two nights on x and y date and then makes another two-night booking for the same dates at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour rewards for only one of those bookings. 

Is there a limit on the number of bookings I make on different dates?  Edmonton Best Hotels welcomes repeat business.  Some of our guests visit Edmonton every month.  Please note as stated earlier there must be a minimum of three days between bookings. Please also note stated blackout dates.

Cancelling and date changes to reservations

If a guest wants to cancel or change the dates of their booking.

What if I want to cancel my booking?  Edmonton Best Hotels must cancel your booking (not the hotel).  If you want to cancel, contact info@edmh.ca and let us know.  We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records.  Please do not cancel directly with the hotel.

What if I want to change the dates of my booking?  You must contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca and let us know you want to make a date change.  Your original booking must be cancelled first.  You will receive a cancellation number for your records.  Then, you must rebook for your new dates.  The hotel nor Edmonton’s Best Hotels cannot make date changes to the original booking.  Please note this does not guarantee you will receive the same hotel rate when you rebook for different dates.

Any questions, please contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca 

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