Why is My Dad So Quick to Defend My Mom yet He Lays into Me at Will?

This has always perplexed me, and I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from ya'll -

My mom is not the greatest cook. She will consistently make dry food, under seasoned food, food that just isn't that great... My dad will REFUSE to critique my mom's cooking, and any time I say, "It could've used some more salt..." My dad will literally, aggressively say, "Nooo, nooo!! Don't listen to him, Mom - Don't listen to this guy..." He will literally call me "this guy". It fucking irks me so bad - Meanwhile, if I make something (I'm known as a competent cook) he'll say, "Boy, it's hard!" or "Yeah, I like something else..." "Taste's different..." Some bullshit - even if it's like, one or two steps away from being gourmet...

Why is he sooo, soo protective of my mother?? I feel he's gaslighting her into smithereens and it makes me so depressed. She's like a grown infant. Omg... Why does he treat me like an inexhaustible resource? They both do, honestly...

Thnx.