Horse on the menu

According to the NZ Herald, a restaurant in Hamilton has been getting abusive calls after serving horse...

Canvas restaurateur David Kerr received abusive phone calls in the wake of a story on Monday publicising his "Mr Ed is Dead" horse dish entry in this year's Monteith's Wild Food Challenge.

"It was pretty lively and disgusting and not comforting for the staff," Mr Kerr said. "There was swearing, cursing, horrible language and it prompted a call to the police."

But while wild horses couldn't drag some punters into his restaurant this week, others can't wait to dig in. Mr Kerr was buoyed by the sale of 10 meals on Monday night and a host of email inquiries.

"Some think it is appalling but others are really interested to give it a go and want to know where else they can buy it," he said.

Leading racehorse breeder Sir Patrick Hogan said he would be disappointed if horse took off as restaurant fare.

"I certainly won't be eating horse, that's for sure, whether it is from the Kaimanawa Ranges or thoroughbreds," he said. "I realise I eat lamb and beef but the animals I have mostly worked with are horses and I am passionate about them. There is no need to introduce a new meat product. If there was only one restaurant in Hamilton and it was his, I wouldn't sit at his table."

But Sandra Shearer, Hamilton spokeswoman for the International League for Protection of Horses, said although she would not eat it, she was not offended.

She noted horse meat was regularly used in foreign salamis and was popular pet food here.

I think that it is also popular in Germany....

I don't know would you eat it?