The Village Butcher

I used to LOVE this place. It is only a few blocks from my house, the meat is locally and ethically sourced (and they employ some dreamboats). Unfortunately, my recent experience has me traveling to other local butcher shops. On a Saturday evening I purchased both chicken breast and chicken thighs, I cooked the breasts immediately and left the thighs for Sunday night. What a disappointment.
After only 24 hours in my fridge they smelled pretty funky. I rinsed them, hoping for the best (I’m on a student budget and spent $ 20 on these things, desperate times call for desperate measures, don’t judge me). When I went to prep them, I noticed that the skin was MASSACRED, on two of the thighs it was only attached in one place, it looked awful (and also meant it was impossible to stick some garlic or a bay leaf under there). Additionally, and this really wouldn’t bother me if it weren’t for all the other issues, three of the thighs weighed between 90 — 100 g while the last was 155 g (yes, I weigh my food). I know they won’t all be the same, obviously, but it was just a weird and huge anomalous thigh.
In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to cook and eat them since I was too worried about getting sick. I just threw them away and vowed never to spend my money at Village Butcher again.
There are so many wonderful places to buy local and ethically sourced meat in Victoria and if I am going to drop that kind of cash, I want it to be on quality goods.
Sorry Village Butcher, I’m moving on to greener pastures.

Huge fan! It is like a trip back in time when you knew the butcher and staff and they knew you. So lucky to have this place just a short walk from the house.

Absolutely amazing! These butchers rock the cow… and make me proud to be a carnivore! Unreal sausages, great steaks and killer BACON! All organic, hormone free, ethically raised… how it should be. Check this place out or forever feel shame.