He Did Not Like The Smell
By Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
United States
January 3, 2021 8:50am CST
Yesterday, I was craving for some tuyo (fried dried fish). My family in the Philippines sent me a package a few weeks ago, and it is filled with all foods and other goodies that are my personal favorites. One of them is a pack of tuyo (dried fish). Tuyo is salted dried fish, usually herring. It is considered as a poor man's food because it's cheap and the process of salting and drying it in the sun is also very simple. But over the years, this impression is expunged as everyone learned to enjoy it.
The only downside is the smell when it is being fried. For some, like myself, who is used to this, the smell is actually mouth watering especially when you smell the garlic fried rice that is usually paired with it. But for others, it can be very revolting.
Queue my husband, who loves fish except for this kind. 
I thought he will not come home for lunch yesterday because he packed some leftovers. He came home while I was frying tuyo, and he started overly acting like he is revolted by the smell. I have the vent fan going, the kitchen window open, as well as our french sliding glass doors that leads to the deck. I also have a scented candle burning. He started teasing me about it, asking me why I am eating a minnow (bait fish). I told him he should have a bite before he knocks it. I never saw him shut up and move away that fast.
Do you also have any food that you like that others find weird?
I thought he will not come home for lunch yesterday because he packed some leftovers. He came home while I was frying tuyo, and he started overly acting like he is revolted by the smell. I have the vent fan going, the kitchen window open, as well as our french sliding glass doors that leads to the deck. I also have a scented candle burning. He started teasing me about it, asking me why I am eating a minnow (bait fish). I told him he should have a bite before he knocks it. I never saw him shut up and move away that fast.
Do you also have any food that you like that others find weird?13 people like this
14 responses
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
3 Jan 21
Nice you received a gift involving your favorite food.
Yes I like to mix different veggies while I eat rice which others find weird
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (208846)
• United States
3 Jan 21
Not really...I am pretty maintream when it comes to food. I hate the smell of cooking fish, especially salmon in the microwave. That is the pits.
3 people like this
@allen0187 (59692)
• Philippines
3 Jan 21
Some Filipinos do not even like the smell of 'tuyo' so this is understandable.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59692)
• Philippines
3 Jan 21
@Raine38 I had an officemate who used the pantry microwave to heat her lunch of 'tuyo'. She was not popular with the expat bosses.
1 person likes this
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
3 Jan 21
@allen0187 Oh that's not a good decision on her part. Even tuna that is heated in the microwave oven will stink up the room, and that is not as fishy as tuyo. Some people even get sick or throw up with that smell, nothing against them it's a cultural thing.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11944)
• Legaspi, Philippines
3 Jan 21
I also don't like the smell so I don't cook dried fish anymore. The last time I did, it took several days before the smell vanished completely. We have a small boarding house so I avoid cooking this kind of fish.
3 people like this
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
3 Jan 21
They told me it also depends on how the fish was cleaned. I am not sure if this is true though. I have had dried fish which smelled so bad the house smells for days. But the one I cooked yesterday is not pungent at all and the smell did not linger. I guess ventilation helped dispel it? But yes, if I am in a smaller living quarter I will be cautious of any smelly food.
1 person likes this
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
3 Jan 21
It's an acquired taste. For me, it is mouth-watering but I also know that some people cannot stand the smell. There is an alternative though - some enterprising minds decided to bottle these fried dried fish in olive oil after frying them. So no need to cook them, just eat straight out of the jar.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
3 Jan 21
Those kind of smell also linger on for a long. Even I don't like it when it is such a strong smell.
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
3 Jan 21
This is my go to food whenever I am sick and tired of very rich foods. Like after the holidays when we've always been eating ham, steaks, briskets, etc. I would usually go for tuyo, rice, and green mangoes with bagoong to cleanse the palate. 
1 person likes this
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
3 Jan 21
My husband is from the US. I take it your husband is from India? Dried squid is not as smelly even when it is being cooked. I have some dried squid too, and I told my husband I can skewer these in barbecue sticks and grilled, so he can try it. He said he's not sure about it.
@youfiq (2564)
• United States
3 Jan 21
I like salted fish, even my mother often cooks it, fried salted fish is fried using hot oil and becomes crispy and crunchy, even I like to eat this salted fish using warm white rice, that's enough for me and I don't find the smell strange. I also like to eat jengkol, even though after that it smells like when you pee and defecate the smell will be very strong lol, for me jengkol is like a potato, good to eat when fried and mixed with balado chili sauce. even bananas are like that, food that people think "stinks" but is always appetizing
1 person likes this
