Riddles of the Sphinx 9 - CLOSED

Here is my ninth riddle, with the answer being, as always, a magical creature.

There is a 40 point opening for the first person to PM me with the correct answer, and 20 points for everyone else who gets it right.

Good luck!

Think first of one half,
Can be giraffe or calf,
Or human the answer is there.
Then second a word,
Tradition absurd,
Dinner or supper or a drink perhaps.
And thirdly, a centre,
Of the world, never to enter,
Or an apple, where the seeds reside.

This riddle is now closed.

The answer was MANTICORE.

Well done to rip_dogfather who PMed me first with the correct answer. She will receive 40 points for her house.

Also well done to the following people, who will all receive 20 points:

AmanakaLee
mcfly_42