Les Fougères, a restaurant and gourmet food store renowned for its seasonal, locally driven cuisine, has officially changed hands in Chelsea at 783 Hwy 105.
The new owners, Allan Zander and Randy McCoy, purchased the business last month from founders Charles Part and Jennifer Warren-Part, who operated Les Fougères for 32 years, according to The Low Down. The restaurant occupies a former gas station that the Parts have converted into an award-winning destination, recognized among Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants multiple times. The transition will include the existing staff and continuity of the menu, with Zander and McCoy emphasizing respect for the restaurant’s legacy.
Founded in 1993, Les Fougères has grown into a landmark in the Gatineau Hills, combining a fine-dining restaurant, hearth-oven pizzas, charcuterie, a gourmet food store, expansive gardens, and a gallery upstairs. The Chelsea location has long been a community hub, hosting weddings, including the couple’s daughter, and welcoming notable guests such as Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The property includes woodland paths, a screened-in verandah, and a dining atmosphere that highlights local terroir and seasonal ingredients.
Zander, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef and co-owner of Ottawa-based data analytics firm DataKinetics, is partnering with McCoy to maintain the restaurant’s standards. Charles and Jennifer Part will assist with the transition for about a year before retiring. Challenges noted by the founders include rising food costs and the impacts of climate change, which recently required investment in a generator to mitigate power outages during storms.
The menu features small and large plates driven by local ingredients, including roasted turnip with fresh herb yogurt, corn fritters with aioli, hearth-oven pizzas, poached duck with roesti and Papineauville chèvre, and seared scallops with shrimp and salt cod ravioli. Take-home meals and seasonal specials are also available, reflecting the restaurant’s emphasis on rustic, nutritious cuisine.
Les Fougères remains open for dinner on Wednesday through Saturday and for lunch on Fridays, with the gourmet food store operating from Wednesday through Sunday. With this change in ownership, the restaurant plans to preserve its reputation for genuine hospitality, seasonal dishes, and community engagement, while continuing to be a culinary destination in Chelsea and the greater Ottawa-Gatineau area.
