I live in an apartment and my next door neighbor cooks nightly with their door and windows open. I know why...their food stinks! I'm not joking. It's a very pungent almost fishy smell. But not fish. They are from the middle east and are the nicest people. I talk to them regularly and I guess I should ask what the hell smells, but I'm embarrassed because when I've had people over for dinner at my house about 6pm when the neighbors are also cooking, they say "what the hell are you cooking? it smells like ****..." this is before they come in the house...so please help me. Just the peace of mind would help.
2006-11-05 13:17:43 · 23 answers · asked by sweetie 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
They probably know it smells bad since they cook with the doors and windows open. =P
The food may smell bad but middle-eastern food is freaking delicious! They use a lot of garlic in their food so that's one possible reason. I also think the smell may be emanating from the lamb/goat meat. Ask them what they're cooking.
2006-11-05 18:18:08 · answer #1 · answered by dreamclock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same neighbors. Every time I smell them cooking it smells like a goat ate a fish, then smoked a cigar, then was roasted over an open pit. I have also never been brave enought to ask what the hell is cooking.
2006-11-05 13:20:31 · answer #2 · answered by trans fat is good! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your question brings back memories. I went to visit my brother at A&M and his neighbors were from the middle east. It was like road kill helper with middle eastern spices. When the smell hit us, it was unbearable. They had a siamese cat and it would leave the house every time they cooked. If you didn't open the door fast enough, she would jump out of the 2nd floor window. You would not see her again for hours. We had not seen each other for a few years. We stayed up and talked and had a few beers. The sun was about to rise when we finally gave out. I was half asleep when I though I heard someone screaming for help. But it was time for them to face Mecca and do their thing. It was my first experience with the culture, and I never got close enough to meet them first hand, just stories from the neighbors involving culture clashes and humorous anticdotes. Eventually my brother and his wife moved. They never found a spray that could remove the odor. They opened the windows before they left and ate out a lot.
2016-05-22 02:26:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are probably frying (there are numerous delicious fried treats in the middle-east cuisine) and it's just the oil in the deep fryer that could use a change. Old frying oil can really smell like something died in there.
Just start off some nice and honest smalltalk with your neighbours and then give them a hint. Or just ask openly and directly - why not use the plain Borat approach?
2006-11-05 13:34:08 · answer #4 · answered by dwave 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No offense to anyone, but I used to live in an apartment under some Indian people, and the used to cook every night. It was a very strong, strange unusual smell.
2006-11-05 13:26:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Extreme amounts of garlic getting burned can smell terrible. And fishy smells that don't seem fish could be the tiny dried fish (that smell like cat food) that are being used as the basis of a curry paste. Burn candles in your home, it neutralises the air a little.
2006-11-05 21:15:16 · answer #6 · answered by Ragazza 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People from the Middle East eat a lot of lamb, which has a rather distinctive odor and flavor. But I really don't know for sure. Maybe it's the kind of spices they use. You might casually ask them sometimes what it is they're cooking. Sometimes food smells worse than it tastes. It must not be too awful or they wouldn't be able to eat it either. But I'm curious myself. If you find out, let us know so we won't cook it. It's probably one of their native dishes. You might ask what ingredients are in it, as it has an unusual aroma. As them for the recipe. LOL! Just kidding. But even if you find out, I don't know of a tactful way to ask them to keep their windows closed. Maybe you'll have to keep yours closed and use an air freshener.
2006-11-05 13:28:25 · answer #7 · answered by gldjns 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I only hope they are not cannibals !
or check with any cats and dogs missing from the area !
even fish while cooking, doesn't give any obnoxious odours !
all edible food, being cooked, must stimulate appetite !
you are too modest !
if this a hazard, talk to them skillfully, or simply visit their kitchen, at that time, under pretext, oh, what is cooking, and gain first hand knowledge !
light aromatic sticks !
seems rather fishy to me !
2006-11-06 02:24:12 · answer #8 · answered by palador 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most likely the spices. Curry can carry a long way. I know someone who manages apts. When those who cook with curry leave, they have to paint the walls and clean the carpets and the smell still stays. Imagine what it does to your gut....
2006-11-05 13:35:03 · answer #9 · answered by abbyrose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if i were you, i'll gather all courage and go to their house when they're cooking and simply ask, "gee, that smells sooooooooo good, i've been wondering what you're making. Can I have a try?".. Oh, don't forget to bring a plate of your own cooking as an excuse to try theirs.
Happy trying! :)
2006-11-05 18:22:04 · answer #10 · answered by j 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋