Stinky food
Sunday morning I cooked chicken fried rice… The ingredients were garlic, onion, sambal, egg, chicken and kecap manis and then left over rice.. The next morning it was egg fried rice ( we love fried rice π₯Ί) and spam less sodium π΅βπ« .. egg, garlic, left over fried rice, and soy sauce..
If these are stinky for them… what else can I cook? I have never cooked food with strong smell since moving in here. (Shrimp paste or dried fish, which I believe would really smell, NEVER)π will be sending an email to the management today and see what happens..
Edit: Thank you so much for all the kind and supportive comments π it really means a lot.
Just to share a bit more context. Mypartner and I both work night shifts We get up at 11:30 pm every night for our 12 am cleaning job, come back at 5 am, and need to fuel up for our cafΓ© job at 6:30 am.
Weβre a Filipino couple living here in Gold Coast,Aus and Iβm really used to having a heavier breakfast. The unit we live in doesn’t have a range hood. From our experience, you can smell cooking in the hallways from everyone, but once inside our own unit we donβt smell it anymore (maybe because I have air fresheners everywhere too) we thought it was the same for them. We also never hear noise from other units. If only I had known, I swear I would have considered them.
I plan to mention this to our manager today since heβs nice and approachable. Someone also suggested a portable air hood.. I didnβt know those existed, but I already checked it out and bought one right away to help. I love cooking (I also work as a cook in a breakfast cafΓ©!) and Iβd really love to keep making good food without disturbing anyone. Thanks again for all the support and suggestions π
Update: The property manager actually called us and told me she knows who wrote that letter. It’s the neighbor right beside us. Apparently, sheβs been leaving letters on peopleβs doors and even in the lift. Sheβs the only one who has complained, and the building managers themselves donβt like what sheβs doing either. They even sent the latest letter (posted in the lift just this morning) to our property manager. The property manager told me to just keep cooking, and if I get another letter, to let her know because that would count as harassment.
Iβve also been reading all your comments and suggestions. I understand people have different preferences and sensitivities. What smells normal to one person may not be to another. The only thing we can really control is ourselves and how we react.
Even knowing this neighborβs behavior, Iβm still going ahead with the portable air hood I ordered from Amazon, and Iβll also be getting an air purifier (something Iβve been planning to buy anyway, now with an extra reason haha).
It also made me think.. this was the first time I actually cooked with sambal (I usually just add it after cooking), so maybe its strong flavor was what really set her off. Or maybe it was the garlicβ¦ I donβt want to invalidate her feelings. I acknowledge that maybe I slipped in judgment when I used sambal this time.
She mentioned that I have been cooking stinky food for months. I usually cook a mix of Asian and Western dishes and love trying new recipes. Since I also work in a cafΓ© kitchen, Iβve been cooking eggs and bacon for years. Honestly, even the food some people call “stinky” in the comments, I donβt find stinky at all! I actually love kimchi and curry π«£
Iβll be honest, Iβm an emotional person and I always worry about what others think. Since receiving that letter, Iβve been anxious, constantly checking the door, peeking through the peephole before leaving, just to avoid bumping into anyone. But reading so many kind and heartwarming comments from you all has really helped me feel so much better. Thank you so much! π I honestly wish you all a lifetime filled with delicious meals! π³π₯