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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Smelly cooking

11 replies

Floranan · 01/09/2025 00:12

So, I’m not sure am I being unreasonable, but I don’t see away round it tbh. No one’s ever said anything before. But then all my neighbours love my cooking and particularly my chutney

the thing is, me house is in a strange position. The drive is longe between 2 houses and I’m tucked behind them. My border is sort of an off L shape at the back, tucked into the right hand side of the L is an air b&b, it’s a lovely little 2 bed cottage we normally only get little families or couples staying there, it’s really tiny. The little garden is the other side of the L my garden is the left side of the L and my kitchen is against the _ with a path between the windows and door and their fence. So yes in essence they might as well be sitting outside my kitchen window. We’ve never had a problem and I try to respect it if people are staying there keep music down etc.

but it’s the hight of the chutney making season, and I do make a lot to give away to family and friends. Because I struggle physically now I make in small quantities once or twice a day over the last few days. Then without thinking tonight I made a curry for dinner. I went out to fetch the washing in and could hear them muttering and complaining about the smells,

I have honestly never given it any thought, DH and my neighbours on the other side said it doesn’t smell that much, infact they hadn’t noticed it at all this year yet and when they do it’s only the odd whiff.

but then these people are on holiday but surely if you book a rental in the middle of residential houses you’re going to get day to day life.

how would you feel if you were staying next to me, living doesn’t really count because it’s only a couple of weeks or so .

OP posts:
HerecomesMargo · 01/09/2025 00:16

Yanbu, it isn’t a hotel where you can’t smell the kitchen or food when in your room. It’s a residential area where people actually live. They will be gone soon so I wouldn’t bother about them.

The only people I know who don’t like a curry can’t even cook a proper meal themselves .

Dazzlemered · 01/09/2025 00:16

Just ignore them.

What you said is true, it’s in the middle of a residential street so of course there will be smells and noise.

I’d love to be your neighbour!

ItsHellOrHighwater · 01/09/2025 00:20

Your are cooking in your own home, just ignore them. No issue at all, I’m surprised you would even give it any thought.

OneKhakiFish · 01/09/2025 00:28

I think it's unreasonable for people to expect you not to cook what you enjoy, ignore them and enjoy your curries.

Floranan · 01/09/2025 08:17

Thank you for your answers, I knew really I was just being silly.

i just thought they have paid through the nose for a quaint little village cottage (and it is beautiful in a pretty location but costs a fortune a night ) and I’m boiling vinegar.

but they wanted village life and I know the farmer is muck spreading today so that will be lovely

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 01/09/2025 08:56

Dont give it another thought... you being a resident doing your day to day activities trumps their being a tourist every time.

randomchap · 01/09/2025 09:04

I fancy curry for dinner now

MrsBucketHat · 01/09/2025 09:08

Carry on cooking! On the reverse, I also live in a village that has lots of holiday makers and I have to put up with their delicious smelling bacon when I’m walking to work!

DeedlessIndeed · 01/09/2025 09:10

I love the smell of a curry, but I detest the smell of cooking chutney. To me, it is a vile smell that turns my stomach. I remember my mum would make it. The whole house would reek of vinegary chutney and I'd have to go to school with the smell on my clothes.

If I was on holiday and someone was making chutney the entire time I might have a bit of a moan to DH. But I would never complain to the owners or neighbours.

Just ignore their conversation, you are doing absolutely nothing wrong. But IMO they aren't wrong for muttering to themselves about not liking the smell either. If they are making barbed comments to you, then they are rude.

Carry on, enjoy your chutney!

Digdongdoo · 01/09/2025 09:20

You're fine. Don't give it any further thought. It's a them problem not a you problem.

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/09/2025 09:27

Honestly people who are this controlling about this don't deserve to be listened to. Food preparation and cooking involves some smell being created. It's fairly basic physics and chemistry.

Some people want their entire lives to take place in a sterile, hermetically sealed bubble free from the infringement of anyone else's happiness or enjoyment. Such people have no right booking airbnbs in residential areas and should take themselves off to a shepherd's hut ten miles from the nearest village.

Crack on with your chutney. They are probably jealous because they know they will never be able to cook as well as you.

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