How to chase my culinary student brother out of my kitchen.

[willow08]

I am hosting Dh's family Christmas Eve at my house for the first time ever. I am understandably nervous, but were both great cooks, so I think we can handle it. Plus, my Mom and Dad are coming to stay for Christmas and Mom is a wonderful cook and said she would help with whatever we need. And she will do just that, help, not take over.

My parents are also bringing my 22 year old brother, who is a culinary student in one of the better known cooking schools. Brett, is a sweet guy, usually means the best, but he's also irresponsible, immature, and sometimes arrogant. When he cooks, he expects the host to have THE BEST ingredients possible and if you don't he will go out and buy $15 sea salt or a $45 meat cut and expect you to pay for it. He will also dirty every dish you have and not clean up because "I cooked." His efforts are usually good, but a little too "refined" for my tastes. (Beef so rare it bleeds when you cut it, etc.)

When I cook, Brett will watch me and point out my mistakes, telling me how to do it better or just push me out of the way to do it himself. This irritates the crud out of Dh and myself. We do not want him trying to take over our kitchen over Christmas. This is our dinner and we want to cook it. We will appreciate any help he offers, but we will not put up with attitude or being shoved out of the way in our own home. We've told him and my Mom this. Mom's usually pretty supportive and definitely recognizes that Brett does this.

Any suggestions on how to maintain control of my kitchen in my own home?

[Bethalize]

Any suggestions on how to maintain control of my kitchen in my own home?

Distraction techniques. As he's so skilled, get him to carve the garnishes. Otherwise, just tell him what you told us. It's about boundaries, not ability, and he is (probably unintentionally) disrespecting you and your home.

[freakyfemme]

"Oh, Brother, you have to cook all the time at school, you need a break.  Besides, how will I ever become as skilled as you are if I never get any practice?"

[fklwmn]

"My house, my kitchen. Get out!"

hehehe... darn, does it show that my brother and I have a slightly toxic relatinship? :-p

[LissaR1]

Well, is he the kind of person you can talk to before hand?  Just tell him very honestly that this is your dinner, and although you appreciate the fact he's an excellent cook, you enjoy cooking as well and would really like to do this for your family? 

If that doesn't work, I agree with distraction techniques.  Have some jobs on hand for him to do that keep him occupied and preferably out of the kitchen all togeteher.  Or if you have a willing volunteer (since it sounds like your brother is a pretty decent guy in general), explain the problem to them and see if they can keep him tied to a game or something.  Ooh- there you go.  Get a game going (preferably a fast-paced one) among your guests while you and hubby do dinner.  It keeps everyone entertained, gets them having a good time, and keeps your brother out of the kitchen (hopefully).

[willow08]

"Oh, Brother, you have to cook all the time at school, you need a break.  Besides, how will I ever become as skilled as you are if I never get any practice?"

Ooooh. Appeal to his vanity.

You're good.

[IndianInlaw]

Take the knobs off the stove and put them in your pocket.

[willow08]

Take the knobs off the stove and put them in your pocket.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[freakyfemme]

"Oh, Brother, you have to cook all the time at school, you need a break.  Besides, how will I ever become as skilled as you are if I never get any practice?"

Ooooh. Appeal to his vanity.

You're good.

Lol.......can you tell that my favourite book when I was a kid was "Paper Bag Princess"; in which Princess Elizabeth foiled the dragon by having him show off his ability to burn up forests with his fiery breath, and fly around the world in thirty seconds flat, until he fell sound asleep and she just stepped over him and rescued the prince?

[ClaireC79]

the one where she dumps the prince because he's too into the appearance of a princess

[Bethalize]

the one where she dumps the prince because he's too into the appearance of a princess

Ooh, who's the author? I want that book!

[freakyfemme]

the one where she dumps the prince because he's too into the appearance of a princess

Ooh, who's the author? I want that book!

The book was written by Robert Munsch....and now I just *have* to quote the last line, because I'm on a roll:

"'Ronald, your clothes are very pretty, and your hair is very neat.  You look like a real prince, but you are a BUM!!!'

They didn't get married after all."

[Bethalize]

The book was written by Robert Munsch....and now I just *have* to quote the last line, because I'm on a roll:

"'Ronald, your clothes are very pretty, and your hair is very neat.  You look like a real prince, but you are a BUM!!!'

They didn't get married after all."

Thanks! I must get a copy.

[Clara Bow]

I cannot stand anyone in the kitchen with me under the best of circumstances. I cannot imagine having Emeril Jr in there with me. I think I would politely tell him that I was hosting this event, and that I wouldn't dream of interfering with an event that he was hosting and that I'd appreciate the same respect.
I cannot imagine going out unsolicited to buy a ridiculously expensive item and them asking someone else to pay for it. He'd have a heart attack in my kitchen, I have store brand herbs and all my salt is the store brand plain old iodized stuff.

[Gwywnnydd]

"My house, my kitchen. Get out!"

hehehe... darn, does it show that my brother and I have a slightly toxic relatinship? :-p

Not necessarily . I'd feel perfectly comfortable saying that exact thing to my brother, and we have a pretty good relationship. Good enough that, when one calls the other one on obnoxious behavior, the other one says (some variety of) "Whoops, I *was* being a jerk there, wasn't I? Sorry. I stop now."