Every Bite Tells a Story
Every bite tells a story | Aline brings French flair to The Collective
Dive into the heart of the Goulburn Valley’s culinary scene with Jan and Paul Phillips. Every Friday, the pair will serve our readers with their knowledge of our communities’ restaurants, cafés and pubs — one plate at a time.
We had the pleasure of meeting the new owner of The Collective, Aline Davies, who brings years of experience in the hospitality industry. Having spent most of her professional life in the hospitality sector in France and later at Mitchelton Winery, Aline is well versed in the gastronomic world.
Despite exploring other industries, she always found herself drawn back to her passion for fine dining. Aline, a stylish and elegant French lady with a certain je ne sais quoi, undoubtedly enhances the already stellar reputation of this establishment, ensuring it remains a premier dining destination in the Goulburn Valley.
The News recently featured her and her history in a fantastic read, highlighting the French flair for food and innovation.
Aline has taken over a business renowned for its quality, service and delicious food. It’s the go-to place for an elegant meal in the restaurant or a quick bite in the Food Store, where you can enjoy gourmet wood-fired pizzas and other delectable dishes.
The Vault is perfect for special events and functions, with a spacious area upstairs that can accommodate 18 to 50 people and features an open balcony overlooking Fryers St. For a more intimate setting, the private dining room behind the wine room can host up to 18 people, while the wine room itself is ideal for private functions, holding up to 12 people. The options are endless — and the food is fabulous.
The Teller restaurant originated in Mooroopna at the old bank, hence the name ‘Teller’. It was eventually moved to Shepparton, where it has evolved into the fantastic food, event and celebration haven we know today. Who can forget the magnificent degustation from those days? The cooking classes were not only informative and mouth-watering but also very social and fun.
The Vault was initially a music club that hosted many notable artists and bands such as Glenn Shorrock, Mental As Anything, Mark Seymour, Richard Clapton, Wendy Matthews, Jack Jones, Frankie J. Holden, James Reyne and Brian Cadd, among others. Those were indeed heady days and so much fun. There are entertainment events being planned again, such as Craig McLachlan and Andy Penkow’s ‘About Time Tour’ on August 2 at the Vault. The beauty of these events is the intimacy and up-close-and-personal opportunities of a smaller venue.
We were joined by our good friend John Hommes, and we all loved the service, the space, the ambience, the menu and especially the food. The menu offered great vegetarian options in every course, and food sensitivities were catered for.
We enjoyed fantastic entrées, including fried polenta with porcini cream and ham, and Gruyère croquettes with quince purée. While we considered the vegetarian main course, the carnivore in us won out, and we opted for the crumbed pork cutlet with salsa verde apple and rocket salad and a beautifully cooked eye fillet with duck fat potatoes. The vegetable side dishes were equally good: roasted Kent pumpkin with Comté and truffle oil and bread-crumbed broccolini. The three of us shared a dessert that was a unique take on a traditional apple crumble, a wonderful way to celebrate and champion local fruit.
Food pricing for The Collective, rated by Jan and Paul: $$
(Expensive $$$, moderate $$ good value $)