Crossword Genius

I object at party starting, ie with a non-vegetarian pastry (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

meat pie

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'pastry' is the definition.
(meat pie is a kind of pastry)

'i object at party starting ie with a non-vegetarian' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'i' could be 'me' and 'me' is found in the answer.
'object' could be 'pie' (pie is a kind of object) and 'pie' is found within the answer.
'at' is found in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for meat pie that I've seen before include "Snack" , "fare" , "Ape time (anag.)" , "Pastry covered dish containing pork, beef etc" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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