Chef Johnathan Shillingford had a bad start onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9, but after significant improvement, he deserves to serve as the chef in season 10. The maligned chef served raw seafood to a guest with an allergy, thought cookies and brownies were an appropriate anniversary dinner, and cooked cold eggs for an early charter. While it seemedChef Jono could be a producer plant, his improvement throughout the season combined with his witty remarks would make him a welcome addition toBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 10.
Earlier on in the season, it would seemnot firing Chef Jono indicated producers didn’t careabout the cast ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9. However, Captain Sandy Yawn’s inability to find another chef to replace him may have been a blessing in disguise. He’s a likable crew member who works hard and has a less traditional approach to yacht cuisine. Chef Jono deserves another season on the show before Captain Sandy officially throws in the towel on his abilities. He’s way better than other duds from previous charters and just needed some time to grow.
Chef Jono Got Better As The Charter Season Went On
He Showed Significant Improvement
Chef Jono showed so much improvement as the charter season progressed. His initial mistakes, including overcooked food, bland flavors, and inelegant plating, led to guest dissatisfaction and the threat of being fired. However,Chef Jono demonstrated significant growth throughout the season, despite a raw seafood hiccup around halfway through. He learned to listen to feedback, adapt his cooking style, and improve his time management, which was the root of the cold eggs fiasco.
Whereas Bri consistently struggled with laundry until recently, Chef Jono showed significant improvement throughout the entire season, proving his dedication to the crew.
Chef Jono also focused on presentation, taking feedback from Captain Sandy and creating more visually appealing dishes. He took criticism well and wasn’t resentful. Instead, he chose to improve. While there were accusations that Chef Jono was intentionally underperforming, making him a producer plant, his self-taught background and dedication to improvement suggest that his initial rough patches were real. His rapid growth and ability to overcome challenges showcase his potential as a future charter yacht chef.
Chef Jono Has A Great Personality
He’s Funny And Sweet
Chef Jono is consistently hilarious in his talking heads, owning up to his past mistakes and commenting on other cast members' behavior. He often reads the other crew members for filth while maintaining a well-liked position on the yacht. Chef Jono isn’t afraid to comment on Bri Muller’s inability to do the laundry while still maintaining a friendship with her, or callingElena “Ellie” Dubaich and Briout on their silly feud over lead deckhand Joe Bradley. He’s friendly and funny with everyone, making him an ideal cast member onBelow Deck Mediterranean.
Chef Jono Came From A Unique Background
He Used To Be An Architect
Chef Jono has come a long way on hisBravojourney, evidenced by his behavior in earlier charters contrasting with his ability to be a flexible team player later on. However, he didn’t come by cuisine in the most traditional way. Chef Jono’s unique background is a fascinating blend of architecture and culinary arts.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
Initially trained as an architect, he transitioned into the world of culinary arts after a project didn’t go as planned, making him self-made as a chef. His experience as a yacht chef spans seven years, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role.Chef Jono’s varied and non-traditional culinary expertise, coupled with his architectural background, allows him to approach food creation with a unique perspective. This paid off well for him in the show but also led to more disastrous errors earlier in the charter season.
Chef Jono Proved He Wasn’t A Producer Plant
He Seemed Genuine Throughout
Despite accusations, Chef Jono proved he wasn’t a producer plant throughoutBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9. He wasn’t nearly outlandish or dramatic enough to be categorized as a producer plant. Additionally, he was never incompetent– he just made honest mistakes and had to figure out the learning curve for serving high-quality cuisine on an upscale yacht. It’s common for new chefs to face challenges in a high-pressure environment like a superyacht.Chef Jono’s initial struggles could be attributed to adjusting to the specific demandsof the job.
32
Hometown
Roseau, Dominica
Even experienced chefs can make mistakes. Serving raw fish to a guest with an allergy is a serious oversight, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate deliberate sabotage, which would be more likely if Chef Jono were a producer plant. Additionally, the guest was pretty nice about it, and the majority of the rest of the charter was fabulous. Chef Jono learned so much duringBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9, and his genuine attitude, self-improvement, and entertaining nature should garner him another season on the hit Bravo spin-off.
Below Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
