“He Bounces Back” – Below Deck Mediterranean Viewers Commend Chef Jono’s Skills and Resilience

Episode 16 of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 premiered on Bravo on September 16, 2024, featuring Ellie feeling threatened by the newcomer stew, Carrie. Earlier episodes highlighted Carrie’s introduction to the yacht and how her presence altered the crew’s dynamics.

Meanwhile, Captain Sandy faced the challenge of finding a replacement for the yacht’s chef, Jono. He had previously received warnings about his cooking due to complaints from guests regarding the lack of nuance in his dishes. In response, Captain Sandy reached out to the yacht recruitment board in search of a suitable candidate.

However, her compassionate nature prevailed, and she ultimately chose to allow Jono to remain on board, giving him the opportunity to showcase his talents. Jono rose to the occasion, impressing guests with delicious meals that garnered positive feedback. Fans of Below Deck Mediterranean lauded Jono for his remarkable comeback, with one viewer noting their respect for how he “bounces back”and serves “great meals”after encountering difficulties.

“Jono really has had his ups and downs but I respect how he bounces back and serves great meals after a slip!”one fan said.

Fans praised Jono for his comeback (Image via X/@Dustine_Cone)

Many took to X to commend the Below Deck Mediterranean chef, asserting that he demonstrated significant growth. While some fans suggested he remained onboard due to Captain Sandy’s inability to find a replacement, others credited his presence to his high skill level.

“Mmmm….. love a nice caprese salad! And with octopus!!! Very nice, Jono!,”said another.

“Jono has grown so much!! Hasn’t almost killed any guest anymore!!” one Tweet read.

“I know Jono made some mistakes, but I hope we see him again. I really liked him,”read another.

“Oh absolutely. If he handles this opportunity well, I see him flourishing in a lucrative post Below Deck career,”an X user commented.

“Good on you Jono! He’s killing’ it so far! I love his energy this episode,”another X user commented.

“Yes! And this is his first boat so imagine how good he’d be if he came back??”read a Tweet.

“You can train people for better skills but you can’t teach a great attitude. I respect the way he checks himself & readjust,”read another.

Chef Jono’s Excitement in Episode 16 of Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9

The new charter introduced in episode 16 featured a group of six gay men. Aesha expressed her delight upon seeing them as she had previously hosted them on another yacht in Australia and had found them to be enjoyable guests.

Chef Jono was also thrilled upon realizing this, sharing his sentiments about being a gay, black chef and acknowledging the significance of catering to a group that represents his community. He stated, “Having a group of guests that are all queer, it’s really important for me to feel that energy … These people are part of my community, and there’s nothing I want more than to make sure that they’re extra happy. I made that flavour, flavour, okurrr?”

When Chef Jono met the guests after they had enjoyed his cooking, he playfully asked if he could get a “hey, hey girl?”which they enthusiastically responded to, showcasing their appreciation for his culinary skills. Fans speculated that this positive interaction may not have occurred if Captain Sandy had successfully found a replacement chef.

New episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 air every Monday at 9 PM ET on Bravo.

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