“He bounces back” - Below Deck Mediterranean fans praise Chef Jono’s competence

Episode 16 of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 was released on Bravo on September 16, 2024, and saw Ellie feeling threatened by the new stew Carrie. The previous episodes introduced Carrie as the newcomer on the yacht and how her arrival changed the dynamics between the crew.

At the same time, Captain Sandy had to find a replacement for the yacht's chef, Jono, who had previously been warned for the lack of nuance in his food. A few guests had complained about it, leading Captain Sandy to find a replacement and even text the yacht recruitment board to look for an appropriate candidate.

However, her kindness took over as she eventually decided to let Jono stay and gave him the time to prove himself. Jono managed to redeem himself and cooked meals that the guests loved. Fans of Below Deck Mediterranean praised Jono for making a comeback, with one fan stating that they respected how he "bounces back" and has "great meals" after a slip-up.

"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)

They took to X to praise the Below Deck Mediterranean chef, claiming that he had seen tremendous growth. Meanwhile, some fans claimed that he was only on the yacht because Sandy hadn't been able to find a replacement. However, others said that he was still there because of his caliber.

"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.

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Chef Jono's excitement on episode 16 of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9

The new charter that arrived in episode 16 of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 included a group of six gay men. Aesha was happy to see them because she had hosted them on a previous yacht in Australia and found them to be fun.

When Chef Jono found out about the same, he was excited, and explained it stating that he was a gay, black person, claiming he was "like a double minority."

"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?" Jono added.

Chef Jono first met the guests after they were finished eating his food and asked if he could get a "hey, hey girl?" They all loved it and also appreciated his food. Fans noted that this probably wouldn't have happened had Captain Sandy found a replacement for him.

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New episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 come out every Monday at 9 pm ET, on Bravo.