Yeah, saw a whole thing about that, spencer_perry93. Some places use a special oil blend just for the smell.

My friend's mom made a meatloaf with grape jelly.

That bit about "never learn to feel the snap" is so true... it's like we're losing the muscle memory for things. I see it with my own kids, they just look up any fact on a phone instead of trying to remember it or figure it out. The tool does the work, so the skill just fades away.

Buddy's patch failed in six months.

That "total loss to save the day" line hits hard. It's such a gut punch to pour all that work down the drain, but you're right, sometimes it's the only call. The smell of burnt onions alone would ruin every other dish. Better to take the hit and start fresh than serve something that tastes off. Your buddy made the tough but right choice.