Meat is our Kiwi tucker
by Amy Paterson
A vegetarian pie wins the supreme award of Bakels best pie in New Zealand instead of the traditional meat pie – so what?
Café and bakery owner Neville Jackson has beaten more than 3000 other entries with his vegetarian pie – the first time a vegetarian pie has won.
In a country where 60 million pies were consumed last year, we certainly love our pies.
It’s hard for me to understand why some people can’t fathom the idea that vegetables could taste better than the good ‘ole steak and cheese.
What amazes me even more is that this very notion recently caused huge upset and heated debate on Radio Live’s morning talkback show - with opinion largely polarised on whether a vegetable pie should ibe classed as a pie at all.
For many New Zealanders, staying true to the country’s long lasting heritage as meat and dairy providers runs deep in their blood – and a meal without meat, is not a meal at all.
As a patriotic vegetarian, who refuses to support the cruelty of factory farming that fuels our supermarkets and eateries, I beg to differ.
I’m not here to preach and convert the 99 per cent of the nation that are meat eaters – no, I have a more selfish agenda.
My patience is wearing thin and my social life’s a little flat because of my lifestyle choice not to eat meat.
Just like any kiwi, I enjoy sharing a nice meal out with family and friends, but it appears the hospitality realm in general refuses to accommodate vegetarianism.
I have accepted that, as with any major choice that goes against the ‘norm’, I will have to make some sacrifices – I can deal with that, it’s a good cause.
But when I got to a café or restaurant, and there isn’t a single item on the menu that doesn’t contain meat, I get a little frustrated.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a few fabulous vegetarian places in Auckland city that I can dine at – but a café doesn’t have to be entirely vegetarian to sell vegetarian friendly food.
Alea Balzer, a volunteer of the animal advocacy organisation Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE), feels the same way.
“I think food places have to start being more accepting of vegetarianism. A few places will have one measly vegetarian sandwich and that’d be it,” she says.
Miss Balzer believes that within New Zealand there is still “the psyche that meat has to be in every meal for it to be considered a proper meal. It’s really easy to make meat-free food. I just wish someone would tell a lot of the restaurants that.”
Vegetarianism is on the rise and a strong community is growing, so I say good on the vegetable pie for taking out the top spot.
I hope it’s saying something about the changing attitudes towards meat and that it doesn’t ‘make’ the meal.
Go forth the vegetable pie, and fill the bellies of the hungry vegetarians that forgot to pack their lunch, because the withered lettuce, tomato and non-vegetarian cheese sammy won’t suffice any longer.