out of focus venison pie... and a takahe

yes, i was a vegitarian, and i will likely go back to being one on my return to the states... but, in new zealand meat pies are traditional fare and after nearly 5 months i figured i should try one... i asked around with a few locals where i should get my first pie and 'miles better pies' was the front runner. the owner said if i was going to have a pie in te anau then it had to be venison as the te anau area is (farmed) deer country. so, i took the advice and was not disappointed at all - hot, buttery, flaky crust with tenderly stewed venison on the inside - it was delicious.

in the background is a statue of a takahe, a very rare (it was virtually extinct but is coming back slowly with the help of some sanctuaries and captive breeding programs) new zealand bird. there are a few in an aviary at the entrance to fiordland national park and they are odd looking birds with vibrant blue/green coloring and huge beaks. they are a bit larger than a goose and remind me of how i think dinosaurs might have moved about (thanks to jurassic park, once again).