Yup that's a fact, the tassels don't taste very good.
Meat pie is correct. It's a Michigan thing. The story goes, it was a common meal way back in the day for all the copper miners in the upper peninsula. Also know as "yuppers".
Here in Michigan there's always a debate about diced ingredients versus chuncks of meat and veggies. Either way, it's tasty! And ask almost any up north Michigander, they'll tell you who makes the best pasty.
Makes for a darn good hunt camp food. A whole meal all wrapped up nicely to throw in a backpack.
Tattoo Dave