In Québec, a culinary capital par excellence, Stéphane Modat’s name is firmly established among the must-know chefs and high-end restaurant owners. When you’re invited to spend some of his valuable time discussing Le CLAN’s concept and then enjoy his tasting menu, you can’t help but feel privileged.
This Frenchman arrived in Québec 25 years ago already carrying quite a bit of experience, ideas and projects. He made a name for himself in several well-regarded establishments in Québec before taking over as head chef at Champlain, in the prestigious Château Frontenac, a position he held for eight years. Then came the Covid pandemic in 2020. He saw it as an opportunity to make changes and launch his own business.
In February 2021, he left the Château. His search led him to the former Café de la paix on rue Des Jardins. The legendary establishment, founded in 1952, had once been a landmark of French cuisine in Québec before closing its doors in 2013. Why this place rather than another? ‘You have to write history in something historic,’ Stéphane Modat said as he prepared to establish his Clan there. 
By definition, a clan is a small group of people who have ideas and tastes in common and share them within their circle, or a group that supports one another out of passion or interest. For Chef Modat, this concept applies to his business model: gathering around him producers, market gardeners, processors, artisans and merchants who offer quality local and regional products, and introducing them to his customers from here and elsewhere. In doing so, he builds a terroir community while helping to develop a Québec gastronomy with international reach.
Meat, game, fish, seafood, vegetables, spices and other products are always in Stéphane Modat’s sights. He travels the regions to keep discovering the finest products and the most original, accomplished producers. “No compromise is possible in this field,” he insists. The restaurant’s logo, in the heart of Vieux-Québec, clearly captures this spirit. It brings hunting and fishing products together in a terroir setting, which reflects the chef’s love for these activities.
What drives him day to day since he created le Clan? “I feed the world! I’m lucky to welcome people into my home and to offer them the best in every way!” 
One of the key elements of le Clan’s formula is that everyone enters through the kitchens. Customers, suppliers and staff alike gain access through the place where everything really happens. Once upstairs, you are immediately immersed in an atmosphere that prepares you for what follows. “Welcoming people is my passion,” chef Modat says.
The tasting menu we sampled during our visit is, on its own, a complete culinary and emotional adventure. You move through many flavours, delighting in each dish’s presentation before it even reaches your mouth. The Baie-Comeau scallops (summer vegetable aguachile, squid ink, trout roe, pickled onions), the Châteauguay yellow sturgeon (Jerusalem artichokes, cranberries, almonds, caribou, ginger), the Cap Saint-Ignace guinea fowl (miso morels, foie gras, tempeh, poultry cream), the Hommage à Marie-Victorin (Lactarius, blueberry, Labrador tea, spruce), and their wine pairings. These are a few examples of what awaits lovers of truly unique gastronomic discoveries.
Chef Modat has also been innovating since summer 2024 with his lunch menus in a tapas-style "Café de la paix" format. They are popular with industry workers and with visitors looking for culinary curiosities based on Québec terroir products. He also accepts invitations to share his talents as a guest chef at other establishments, and even occasionally on cruise ships docked at the port of Québec. He takes part in international events as an expert speaker, both here and abroad.
Stéphane Modat, father of four children (now adults and teens), all born in Québec, has also been involved in the community for several years, notably at Patro Roc Amadour de Limoilou, which his children attended. There, 180 servings of bouilli with vegetables were served as part of a fundraising event. His friend Peter Simons, of the company bearing his name, which is over a century old, joined him for the occasion.
Worth noting, last May the Guide Michelin recommended Le Clan in its prestigious, world-renowned gastronomic directory. The restaurant was also named "Restaurant of the Year 2025" in Québec at the prestigious Lauriers de la gastronomie.
This entrepreneur from France has fully integrated into his adopted city, Québec. He has become a living symbol of the idea that determination, innovation, quality and diversity are essential ingredients for success. Le Clan reflects well what he considers the secret of his commitment: "Act for the right reasons, without compromise. The best ideas arrive tomorrow!" he is convinced.
Le Clan
restaurantleclan.com
44, Rue des Jardins
Québec, QC G1R 3Z1
(418) 692-0333