Below Deck Mediterranean Chef Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford started season 9 with his job on the line. A rookie to the Below Deck franchise, Jono is a self-trained chef from Dominica. He has a background in architecture, but his love for food inspired him to change his career path and become a charter yacht chef. Jono has settled in nicely among the crew, offering support to his peers and avoiding involvement in their drama.
Jono’s cooking raised eyebrows after making a series of mistakes that left the guests dissatisfied. He chose unusual spices, and his food was often overcooked or bland. Jono’s cooking was not up to par with the luxury experience guests deserved. When the guests complained to Captain Sandy Yawn, Jono was at risk of being fired. Fortunately, he stepped up his game to avoid being replaced. Jono’s quick improvement, while impressive, also raised questions about why his cooking was so poor early on in Below Deck Med season 9.
Chef Johnathan Has Received Little To No Complaints From The Guests
He Took Sandy’s Criticism Seriously
Jono’s cooking drew criticism several charters in a row. He made choices that seemed lazy, failing to prepare late-night snacks and cooking breakfast so early it was cold by the time it was served. After the guests complained, Sandy lined up a backup chef and threatened to replace Jono if he continued to make sloppy mistakes. Jono realized that his career was in jeopardy, and he seemingly improved overnight.
Jono started the season by overthinking guest preferences. When guests had different dietary preferences, Jono felt his options were limited and chose to serve safe dishes like chicken. After being reprimanded by Sandy, Jono began making multiple entrées customized for individual guests. This required more work, but it kept the guests happy and made them feel respected. Jono’s careful choices resulted in compliments from the guests, and he no longer faced the harsh criticism of earlier episodes.
Chef Johnathan’s Food Has Been Looking Better
His Elegant Plating Is Now Worthy Of A Luxury Yacht
One of Sandy’s main complaints about Jono was his inelegant plating. In one of his worst moves, Jono ripped apart a bland chocolate sponge cake and called it “deconstructed.” The following night, he served overcooked lava cakes with melted ice cream. Jono allowed the chaos of the yacht to take away from the sophistication expected by charter guests.
In between meals, he arranged elegant platters of finger foods, offering a variety of choices to appeal to diverse palates.
Since receiving criticism, Jono put more effort into his presentation. He started serving smaller but more refined dishes and pulled out extra stops like adding colorful garnishes and using a culinary torch. Jono also chose his ingredients carefully and selected high-quality options. In between meals, he arranged elegant platters of finger foods, offering a variety of choices to appeal to diverse palates.
Was Chef Johnathan Just Faking His Poor Performance?
His Rapid Improvement Raises Questions
Considering his rapid improvement, Jono’s been accused of faking his poor performance. However, Jono’s self-taught background should be considered when judging his work. Jono was seen watching videos and calling friends for guidance. It’s not unreasonable to assume he spent his spare time researching how to improve, specifically addressing Sandy’s concerns. With tutorials and recipes available at his fingertips, Jono easily could have learned as he went along and continued to teach himself new techniques.
Furthermore, editing could have influenced the perception of Jono’s cooking. The guests’ opinions may not have been as unanimous as they seemed. Compliments could have been edited out early in the season to make it look like Jono went from an incompetent chef to flawless in no time.
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
As Jono found his groove aboard the yacht, he learned from his mistakes. He put the guests’ preferences first and communicated better with the interior staff to ensure smooth and timely service. Jono’s improvement on Below Deck Mediterranean may have been slightly exaggerated, but as a talented chef, a little guidance was all he needed to put his performance on the right track.
