Season 9 of Below Deck Mediterranean premiered on June 3. The crew immediately faced challenges due to an inept provisioner, leaving them short on key supplies like champagne and rosé.
On the first night, Chief Stew Aesha Scott left Elena Dubaich in charge. Despite serving a fabulous dinner at 9:00 PM, the guests requested more food at midnight, wanting grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and nachos with guacamole. Elena had to wake Chef Johnathan ‘Jono’ Shillingford.
Challenges in the Kitchen
Many crew members were surprised to see Captain Sandy Yawn siding with Chef Jono when he refused to get up and make more food. He’d already had a full day of cooking for the guests and had to be up by 7:00 AM to start breakfast.
I have to wake up the chef,”
Elena said. I’m sorry, Chef, they have ordered food … I will help you, we can do it together.”
Jono responded, I don’t think so.
Difficult Decisions
Elena felt overwhelmed: The boats I worked on previously, I’ve never really made food for drunk people,” she continued. “I feel overwhelmed, I need help … I can just make them grilled cheese and tell them this is what we have.
Rather than drawing a firm boundary with the guests by offering simpler snacks like chips and salsa, Elena promised grilled cheese and even recruited deckhand Gael Cameron to assist. Still overwhelmed, she went back to wake Jono a second time.
Sandy’s Leadership Style
Sandy’s deferred support was noted as she sided with Chef Jono: Never wake the chef,” Sandy declared, surprising Elena.
This decision aligns with her leadership style that’s been shaped through a mix of unique experiences ranging from fighting off pirates to working with influential individuals. Her views were encapsulated in her words: This will be my first time visiting Auckland, so I am thrilled to be traveling to New Zealand with Hayu. The new season of Below Deck Mediterranean will see the crew and I navigate the waters of Athens and face new challenges along the way. It’s jam-packed with drama and definitely one you won’t want to miss!
A Tense Night
The episode closed with Elena trying her best to make grilled cheese for demanding guests while simultaneously dealing with their clamoring requests for more drinks. Aflustered Slovenian native was notably emotional: I bust my ass and it all became about waking up the chef,” she sobbed.
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