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The whole apartment stinks. Is there a solution to this? We don't have an outdoor kitchen.

Do they HAVE to use fish sauce when they cook? Can I reasonably tell her "no more fish sauce?"

Smells fine to me.

As for you, get out of the kitchen.

Reasonably tell her has no positive outcomes.

Several negatives spring to mind.

a) She will think you are definitely crazy for not loving fish sauce
b) Your wife's food that she serves up will mysteriously become cold, or unpalatable, or burned
c) You will be eating outside if you are lucky
d) You will be sleeping outside if you are unlucky
e) You will be alone

However, there ARE simple solutions that work well!!

To rid your apartment of fish sauce and replace them with a gentle cinnamon aroma, boil a few sticks in a pot of water for 5 minutes, and leave.

Use white vinegar - it's powerful enough to wipe out the strongest of smells in the kitchen, wipe down greasy surfaces and then simmer a cup of vinegar in a pan for around 15 minutes.

Baking Soda has the same effect and the easiest of all - just leave a bowl of it in the kitchen.

Don't you have a balcony to cook outside ?

Sweet Lemon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:25 am Can I reasonably tell her "no more fish sauce?"

I wouldn’t recommend it if she is pregnant. The sudden removal of fish sauce may cause chemical imbalance damaging the baby.

Suggest that she gradually eats less and eventually quits entirely. That’s how they get people off the meths and the cracks I think.

fax wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 4:24 am

Sweet Lemon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:25 am Can I reasonably tell her "no more fish sauce?"

I wouldn’t recommend it if she is pregnant. The sudden removal of fish sauce may cause chemical imbalance damaging the baby.

Suggest that she gradually eats less and eventually quits entirely. That’s how they get people off the meths and the cracks I think.

Why would one suggest that their better half stops using an integral ingredient in Cambodian cooking? The Missus probably doesn't like the smell of the OP's bacon or beer breath either.....

When you get married you get the whole package, not just the parts you like. I see nothing positive coming from asking her to cut out the fish sauce and fear she will be at the very least hurt and more likely vindictive. However, it is high in sodium and if you were to explain to her it is not good for your heart health you may be able to convince her to cut back. Fermented fish is very popular in the region I live, it is the foulest smell I can imagine, I feel for you but any comment I have ever made was swiftly shut down. I bought pork loin for a bar bq, the family brought pigs intestines and ears. The pork loin was feed to the dogs halfway through the meal. I asked why? And was told the bad cuts of meat, we give to the dogs. You can take the girl out of the country but you can t take the country out of the girl. Good luck

You could recommend her dish to this special place, maybe she gets an award in the fragrance category ?

[media] [/media]

Special mention to the living cheese. Nastier than a durian, smellwise.

Sweet Lemon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:25 am The whole apartment stinks. Is there a solution to this? We don't have an outdoor kitchen.

Do they HAVE to use fish sauce when they cook? Can I reasonably tell her "no more fish sauce?"

Do you have the kind of relationship where you cant just talk to her and discuss it? Then see how she responds.

I tell my misses to put her underwear on.