Below Deckfranchise chefs have some of the most difficult jobs throughout the charter season, andthose who have a great work ethic don’t find themselves stressed by the kitchen’s pressures. ThroughoutBelow Deckfranchise history, the chefs have often been the people who make or break the success of a charter season. While the rest of the crew all play an integral role in the safety and success of a charter, the chefs provide the food for charter guests, which can often be one of the most important factors of their time aboard the superyacht.
WhilesomeBelow Deckchefs are memorablebecause of the high level of service they provide, others are more memorable for the way they’ve been able to connect with audiences.Below Deck,at its core, is a show that allows viewers to see the inner workings of a superyacht crew. WhileBelow Deckaudiences want to see the luxury of the superyacht, they’re more interested in seeing the way the crew creates that luxury and the drama that goes into it behind the scenes.Below Deckchefs often provide some of the most luxurious parts of the charter for guests.
As the chef is often one of the less visible roles within the crew,Below Deckchefs can sometimes be under-editedon the series if they’re not struggling through the charter season. While manyBelow Deckchefs wind up having big enough personalities to be featured on screen, some do their jobs and move through the charter season with ease, finding themselves more of a background character on the show despite bringing a lot to the table. Regardless,mostBelow Deckchefs have to have a high work ethic to make it throughthe charter season successfully.
While some of thechefs aboardBelow Decksuperyachtsinteract with the rest of the crew and intermingle socially, some stick to themselves and don’t make as much of an impression. The majority of the chefs in recent seasons have had a lot to do with the rest of the yachties, especially in moments when the crew isn’t working hard aboard their sanctioned vessel. ThroughoutBelow Deck’smost recent season and the seasons of its spin-offs,the chefs have been entwined in the drama of the season despite having to work hard, making them huge parts of the show.
8Adam Glick
Below Deck Mediterranean & Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Although Chef Adam Glick was a major part ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanfor two seasons of the series, his work ethic shined a second timeonBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 1. Adam’s time onBelow Deck Mediterraneanmade him aBelow Deckfranchise favorite, earning him recognition for his creativity and incredible work ethic. ThoughAdam was passionate about his cooking, he was also quick to understand that he was working for guestsand had to follow their guidelines, regardless of what this did to his creative vision. Though he had some moments of difficulty, Adam balanced things well.
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Adam was able to work hard under pressure, which can sometimes be the downfall of aBelow Deckchef. Though he was working with some unusual requests from guests during his time on the show, Adam knew how to work quickly, efficiently, and creatively through any challenges he faced in the galley. Dealing with multiple yacht crews who were going through serious drama,Adam did find himself involved in a bit of a boatmace with Malia WhiteduringBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 2, but when he felt rattled, knew how to regroup and settle himself back into his work.
7Natasha De Bourg
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
As anotherBelow Deck Sailing Yachtchef,Natasha De Bourgappeared on the second season of the series after Adam left the show. As achef onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 2, Natasha joined the series at the same time as Gary King, Daisy Kelliher, and Colin Macrae. Though the trio went on to have some serious drama throughout their time aboard Parsifal III, Natasha’s time on the series was a bit different than the rest of the crew’s. Although she became friendly with Daisy,Natasha was focused on her job in the galleyrather than the crew drama.
While there weresome high-stress moments that Natasha had during her time aboard Parsifal III, she was able to navigate through them with grace and ease. Despite knowing that Natasha had trained in some elite kitchens, including restaurants that had been Michelin-starred, she was able to work well for the luxury sailing yacht’s kitchen despite its noticeably lower ranking. Natasha was a hard worker throughout the season, but her lack of drama made her less of a figure onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtthan some other yachties.
6Cloyce Martin
As the current chef working aboard Parsifal III,Chef Cloyce Martin has been able to overcome some serious criticismwith his unique work ethic. Cloyce, a young chef who’s been working since his teen years, came into the season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. While he’s used to being underestimated due to his age and lack of technical training, Cloyce has been able to work in some amazing kitchens and has done a great job establishing himself as a chef at such a young age.
WhileCloyce came intoBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5 knowing he’d likely be underestimated, but he was struggling to deliver in the early charters of the season. Not wanting to compromise his vision for the sake of the guests’ desires, Cloyce had to learn quickly that he needed to cook in a way that made the guests happy, but he wasn’t thrilled about the fact that he’d have to compromise what he knew. Instead,Cloyce worked hard to improve his skills and has found himself a successfulBelow Deckchefas the season’s continued.
5Marcos Spaziani
Featured onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 3,Chef Marcos Spaziani was a fan favoritequickly upon his arrival to the series. While he was an accomplished chef in his own right, Chef Marcos quickly became the gold standard ofBelow Deckchefs. He made it clear that he wanted to tailor his skills to the preferences of the guests, knowing what it took to go above and beyond in creating gourmet dishes that the charter guests would enjoy. WhileMarcos knew that he could do more, he was able to utilize his skills to make the guests happy.
A versatile chef, Chef Marcos did a great job in adapting to changes, dietary restrictions, any preferences that the charter guests may have had to ensure he was creating high-quality meals. A hard worker, Chef Marcos had a tough time personally while he was working aboard Parsifal III, but he didn’t let his troubles show through in hisBelow Deck Sailing Yachtperformance. After suffering a head injury aboard Parsifal III,Chef Marcos had to compose himself and continue to work hard, ensuring the guests were fed throughout the charter.
4Ileisha Dell
After Chef Marcos chose to leaveBelow Deck Sailing Yacht,the chef spot was open for someone new, and Chef Ileisha Dell came in to serve as the new culinary mastermind aboard Parsifal III. WhileChef Ileisha was very differentfrom Chef Marcos, her abilities were on par with the level thatBelow Deck Sailing Yachtviewers had seen in the past. As a part ofBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 4,Chef Ileisha was known for her incredible talent and hard work ethic, which she took very seriously throughout the charter season.
Working well with the incredibly small galley that she had at her disposal and utilizing her skills to ensure that the demands of the charter guests were met,Chef Ileisha was excited to be able to work with the challenges of Parsifal III. While the charter guests of the season were difficult at times with their requests and last-minute changes, Chef Ileisha took things in stride and was able to create impressive, memorable dishes. With a serious attention to detail, Chef Ileisha knew how to work well under pressure.
3Ben Robinson
Below Deck
As the chef for the first four seasons ofBelow Deck,Chef Ben Robinson had the unique distinction of being the first-everBelow Deckchefand one of the longest-lasting.Chef Ben was a unique talent, as his hard work came with a cunning personality that often ruffled feathers with the rest of his crew. Sharing a unique relationship with Chief Stew Kate Chastain, Chef Ben knew that he had to keep his personal, sometimes flirtatious, interactions to a minimum while he was working in the galley.
Creative and often impressive, Chef Ben did a great job working within the superyacht galleys he was offered,creating dishes that wow-ed the charter guests at nearly every meal service. While Chef Ben had other business obligations, he was wholly focused onBelow Deckwhile he was aboard the superyacht. As a chef and an inspiration for otherBelow Deckchefs in the future, Chef Ben has always been one-of-a-kind.
2Tzarina Mace-Ralph
Below Deck Down Under
As the chef aboardBelow Deck Down Under’sNorthern Sun,Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph was excellent to watchafter the difficulties the series faced in its first season with Chef Ryan McKeown. ThroughoutBelow Deck Down Underseason 2,Chef Tzarina was able to handle high-pressure situations with ease, working hard in the kitchen to create beautiful dishes that met the charter guests' dietary needs and preferences. Consistently delivering incredible meals, Chef Tzarina was tasked with some serious expectations when she entered into the crew, but met them with ease throughout each charter.
Chef Tzarina’s calm demeanor was helpful not only to her in her work, but to the rest of the crew as they dealt with stressful situations. Her ability to adapt under pressure was often praised by the rest of the crew and Captain Jason Chambers, as it ensured a seamless dining experience for the charter guests. Chef Tzarina’s sense of ease and ability to adapt provedher strong work ethic and resilience were invaluable forBelow Deck Down Underduring a chaotic charter season.
1David White
Below Deck Mediterranean
As one ofBelow Deck Mediterranean’smost memorable chefs, Chef David White has been praised by viewers and his fellow crew members alike, with Captain Sandy Yawn even calling him the best chef she’s ever worked with. While Captain Sandy and the rest of the crew faced some struggles duringBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 7, Chef Dave was able to work well within the confines of the issues he saw. Bringing innovation into the galley,Chef Dave created menus that were surprising and exciting to the charter guests, which ensured they had a great experience.
Although he was only part of theBelow Deck Mediterraneancrew for a season,Chef Dave’s skills left a mark on the franchise as a whole. His positive attitude was a testament to his personality, as Chef Dave dealt with some seriously difficult circumstances throughout his time onBelow Deck Mediterranean.Though he was struggling in moments, his struggles weren’t clear toBelow Deckviewers, as his hard work shined through and made him seem like the perfect chef.
Source:Natasha De Bourg/Instagram
Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client’s needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.
