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Ever since its debut Below Deck has featured several exceptional Chefs who impressed fans during their stint on the show. Bravo’s Below Deck has been a massive hit with fans since it first debuted on the network on July 1, 2013. The show has enjoyed 10 successful seasons, and filming for the 11th season has reportedly begun. However, one of the most important markers for the franchise is that it has spawned four equally successful spin-off series.
Below Deck Mediterranean was the first spin-off, and it debuted in 2016. Then came Below Deck Sailing Yacht, which premiered in 2022. Two other spin-offs also premiered in 2022 — Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Adventure. Over the years, the Below Deck franchise has introduced fans to interesting cast members playing different roles aboard the yacht. However, the chef role remains one of the most important on Below Deck, and fans have met quite a few across the franchise.
While the primary duty of a chef is to produce sumptuous meals for charter guests, their likability on the franchise also hinges on their personalities. Over the years, some Below Deck chefs have stolen the hearts of fans not just with their cooking but their all-around display.
Chef Marcos Spaziani
Many chefs have blessed the Below Deck franchise with their culinary mastery over the years, but none have made the sort of impression with fans as Chef Marcos Spaziani. The show’s viewers quickly fell in love with the Venezuelan native during Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3, thanks to his exceptional cooking skills and kind personality.
Marcos began his career journey in Venezuela, where he attended culinary school. After graduating, he decided to travel, which helped him to learn from some of the best chefs across the globe. Before joining Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3, Marcos mostly cooked in restaurants and had worked as a professional chef for over a decade.
His experience and culinary skills quickly separated him from all the other Chefs in the Below Deck franchise. Meanwhile, besides his skills, Marcos also won fans over due to his dedication and drama-free attitude. One of the moments that defined Marcos was when he lost a loved one during filming, and despite the heartbreak, he remained professional and did his job diligently,
More recently, a Reddit user tidderwritten sparked a conversation on social media when they asked fans to name the “Best Chef ever of all the shows. Not favorite.” Although many fans found it hard to choose between Marcos and David White, most users still opted for the former.
Chef David White
Chef David White made his Below Deck debut in Below Deck Mediterranean season 7 and quickly became of the season’s highlights thanks to his exceptional cooking skills. Unlike some other cast, Dave had worked as a Chef on many yachts before bringing his kills to Below Deck, and his experience became instantly evident during his debut season.
Fans highly anticipated Dave’s appearance on the show due to his rich and successful background in the culinary arts. During his time on the show, Dave hardly churned out the same dish, and his passion and professionalism always shone through. More importantly, Dave’s fun and adventurous side and his romance with chief stew Natasha Webb made him an entertainment outlet for viewers.
Although there might be question marks on specific aspects of the show regarding editing and how the producers sometimes portrayed him, one thing that Dave excelled at was genius in the kitchen. British chef Dave White comes closely behind Marcos on this list. Nevertheless, for most Below Deck fans, nothing separates these two as they both boast exceptional culinary skills and experience.
Chef Rachel Hargrove
Although her people-skills are one of the traits that makes her a fan-favorite, Chef Rachel Hargrove is undoubtedly no pushover regarding her kitchen skills. Apart from her impressive culinary skills, Rachel has many other qualities that have made her a clear fan-favorite on the Below Deck franchise.
The red-haired chef joined the Below Deck cast in season 8 and became almost indispensable, reprising her role in seasons 9 and 10. Although Rachel’s time on the show started on the wrong foot due to her confrontational attitude and drinking habits, her redemption arc during season 9 of Below Deck changed fans’ opinions about her.
Besides her good working skills and fun personality Rachel is also an excellent Chef. She has constantly delighted crew members of St. David with her French toast, and she also famously perfected a 10-course dinner. Rachel cemented her status as a Below Deck icon during season 10 with another 5-star performance.
Apart from serving charter guests with sumptuous treats, Rachel’s realness and brutal honesty were a breath of fresh air for many fans who had grown tired of watching too many orchestrated storylines — making her the perfect reality star. Although she will not return to the Below Deck franchise after season 10, fans of the yachting series will undoubtedly miss her.
Chef Ben Robinson
Chef Ben Robinson is one of the most prominent characters in the Below Deck franchise, having starred in two of the franchise’s hit shows. He first caught the eye of fans when he appeared in the original Below Deck series, where he enticed the charter guests with his exquisite culinary skills. His quirky personality was a bonus that further endeared him to the show’s ardent followers.
Ben starred in four straight seasons of Below Deck and went on to feature in seasons 1 and 4 of Below Deck Mediterranean. Even though his pull within the Below Deck fanbase influenced him greatly in the Bravo universe, Ben remained grounded and continued going the extra mile to meet the Captain’s expectations.
It was evident that Ben was passionate about his job, which showed in how he took control of things and his admirable work ethic. This and his bubbly personality earned him the reputation as one of the best chefs on Below Deck Mediterranean.
Chef Adrian Martin
When chef Adrian Martin appeared on Below Deck season 6, he easily broke the stereotype that chefs are hard to work with due to his calm demeanor and easygoing attitude. Most of the show’s fans saw him as a breath of fresh air, and this was a sentiment shared by most of the crew members.
Away from his personality, Adrian’s skills in the kitchen were arguably one of the best the show has ever seen. During his time on the show, Adrian regularly impressed the charter guests with his sumptuous dishes and unique plating. He never had a bad day at work, which is a rare feat for a Chef, given how demanding the job can get.
The only stopping Adrian from topping the list was his sometimes questionable attitude, especially towards some of the female cast members. He often made sexually inappropriate comments towards third stew Laura Betancourt, and although he later apologized, Adrian had already damaged his reputation and standing within the fanbase.
In the real world, the title of best chef would always go to the person with the best skills in the kitchen. However, in Reality TV, their skills and relationships with co-workers determine the overall best. Over the years, the best Below Deck chefs have always displayed a perfect blend of passion and professionalism.