Meat and greet: New butcher shops for Kew and Clifton Hill

Two excellent new butcher shops have popped up in inner Melbourne. The Butcher's Block has opened in Queen's Parade, Clifton Hill, the first time in about 20 years the village has had a butcher, and Sam Canning, of Canning's Free Range in Hawthorn, has unveiled his flagship store off Kew Junction, designed by Fiona Lynch, who also did Prix Fixe.

Both shops specialise in dry ageing, with a distinct focus on higher welfare. Canning has a smoker out the back, using ethically farmed produce to make everything from frankfurts to smoked trout, and offers home delivery to customers from Mornington to Geelong.

Meanwhile, Jeff Hill, in his first solo venture in Clifton Hill, says he's keeping butchers' hours at the Butcher's Block. You can buy a steak from 6am Monday to Saturday - just knock on the window and the boys will let you in.

Cannings Free Range Butchers, 16 Woodford Avenue, Kew (off Princess Street car park), 1300 513 623, canningsfreerangebutchers.com.au

The Butcher's Block, 280 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, 9489 9225, butchersblock.ch