Summary
To restoreBelow Deckto its glory, Chef Rachel Hargrove needs to return to the show. The chefs are the most eccentric and unique crew members onBelow Deckand its spin-offs. They have one of the most intense jobs on board, navigating the pressure of having to cook for the entire superyacht. While some chefs have to withstand the stress, some crack under the pressure. There have been manyunhinged chefs onBelow Deckwho created entertaining reality TV moments. One thing is clear —it’s hard to be a successful chef on the show, and Chef Rachel was.
She joined the yachting reality series duringBelow Deckseason 8 and stayed on consecutively until season 10. Right off the bat, Chef Rachel impressed the crew and guests andswimmingly made her way to fan-favorite status.She’s one of themost memorableBelow Deckcrew membersknown for her dry sense of humor and skills in the kitchen. Despite her widespread admiration,Chef Rachel leftBelow Deckafter season 10after commenting negatively about the show and network. She’s cut ties with Bravo andBelow Deck, but they should reconcile and bring her back to the show.
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8Chef Rachel Hargrove Was Hilarious
Chef Rachel Won The Audience Over With Her Confessionals
Part of the reason theBelow Deckaudience fell in love with Chef Rachel is her confessional interviews. Oftentimes, audio from the interviews is inserted into varying parts of eachBelow Deckepisode. This allows each personality to shine and reveal who they are when they’re not working. Chef Rachel had a few hilarious moments caught by the cameras in the galley, butshe won everyone over with her dry sense of humor in her confessional interviews. Her humor isn’t for all, butBelow Deck receivedit well.
A few other crew members from the show won over the audience like Chef Rachel. Kate Chastain and Hannah Ferrier are arguably the most well-known people from theBelow Deckfranchise. Other personalities, including Chef Ben Robinson and Aesha Scott, have emerged as fan favorites, similar to Chef Rachel. However, she was different from most crew members becauseshe never shied away from sharing her honest thoughtsand opinions on things, no matter how controversial they may have been.
7No Other Chef Has Topped Rachel Hargrove
Chef Rachel’s Skills Were Top Tier
No chef since Rachel has topped her performance on the show. They tried onBelow Deckseason 11,with Chef Anthony Iracaneand Chef Nick Tatlock, but they were never as good as Chef Rachel. Her presence as a reality TV star aside,Chef Rachel was still an incredible chef. She was commended for her consistency in her cooking abilities and transcended past that in her reliability as aBelow Deckchef. She returned to work as theBelow Deckchef for three seasons in a row. Yes, Chef Rachel created hilarious moments and entertained the audience. However, she also impressed the crew and audience alike, which should account for a lot.
6Chef Rachel Hargrove Is One Of The Best Chefs On Below Deck
Chef Rachel Was Impeccable At Her Job
Chef Rachel is one of thebestBelow Deckchefs ever. She had many controversial moments on the show, but at the end of the day, she excelled in the galley. Chef Rachel’s dishes received many compliments from the crew and guests. Despite their feud,Eddie Lucas and Francesca Rubi said she made the best French toast ever. Chef Rachel didn’t have many negative critiques and offered 10-course dinners for guests. Instead of focusing on acquiring reality TV fame from being onBelow Deck, Chef Rachel committed to her craft in preparing excellent dishes for the crew and guests.
5The Below Deck Franchise Would Benefit From Chef Rachel Hargrove’s Return
After she filmedBelow Deckseason 10, Chef Rachel had an unfortunate falling out with theBelow Deckfranchise and Bravo network. Hernegative feelings towards the show began after Eddie commented on her drinking. Nonetheless, she returned for two more seasons. The beginning of the end of her time onBelow Deckbegan whenRachel revealed her distaste forSouthern CharmstarAusten Kroll onX/Twitterin July 2022. She called him a “narcissistic tw*t” in a deleted Tweet, perSportskeeda,and posted messages with a producer asking her to remove her post.
Chef Rachel refused to take down her posts, and one day later,she announced she had parted ways with the network. She said she didn’t want to be “associated [sic] with organizations [she doesn’t] believe in.” Even though she slanderedBelow Deckand Bravo, the show and networkwould benefit from Rachel’s return. Both parties have ill will towards each other, but if they were smart, they’d bury the hatchet and move on.Below Deckwill never find another chef quite like Rachel, and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to replace her presence on the show.
4Chef Rachel Hargrove Would Bring Drama & Entertainment Back To Below Deck
During her time onBelow Deck, the chef created some highly dramatic moments. During her first season, Chef Rachel’s drinking upset Bosun Eddie. They feuded throughout the entirety ofBelow Deckseason 8 and never got back on good terms. In a moment of high stress,Chef Rachel ran off the superyachtwhen guests' preferences frustrated her. She once ordered everyone to silence in the galley because of stress. She was never the most level-headed chef, but that didn’t matter. Chef Rachel brought drama and entertainment in a wayBelow Deckhasn’t seen since she left the show.
3Chef Rachel Hargrove Is Beloved By Below Deck Fans
Chef Rachel Never Changed For The Show
Chef Rachel is a fan-favorite crew member fromBelow Deck. She had a unique personality that most of the audience gelled with. She didn’t have an overly positive attitude, likeBelow Deck Medseason 9 Chief Stew Aesha, or an overly sour attitude, like Kyle Dickard fromBelow Deck Adventureseason 1. Chef Rachelwon over theBelow Deckaudience by being her true authentic self,no matter how good or bad she may have come across. She didn’t have to manufacture moments for the show because she was entertaining enough.
Her iconic storm off from the superyacht duringBelow Deckseason 8 was dramatic, but it was real. It was wild when she forced the whole crew to be completely quiet in the galley while she worked, but it was authentic. SomeBelow Deckyachties try to self-produce themselves and give the audience what they want to see. After her first season, Chef Rachel knew the audience had a liking for her butdidn’t let that change how she behaved while filming the show.
2Every Chef After Rachel Hargrove Hasn’t Lived Up To Her Legacy
Chef Anthony & Nick Weren’t Great Replacements For Her
BothBelow Deckseason 11 chefs didn’t live up to Chef Rachel’s legacy. Only one season has aired sinceBelow Deckseason 10aired, but it’s clear neither Chef Anthony nor Chef Nick were ideal replacements for her. Chef Anthony started the season strong but slowly began doubting himself as the charter season persisted. Even with Captain Kerry Titheradge and Chief Stew Fraser Olender in his corner, he couldn’t muster up the confidence to redeem himself in the season. He was fired, and Chef Nick stepped in to take over his role.
Chef Nick rubbed most of theBelow Deckseason 11 crew wrongly. He was a great chef but didn’t stand out in terms of charisma. Chef Nick got the job done, but he didn’t even hold a candle to the likability of Chef Anthony.Chef Rachel had personality and skills in the kitchen,positioning her as the perfectBelow Deckchef. The network won’t be able to find another chef as balanced as Rachel can make a lasting impact on the show.
1Chef Rachel Hargrove Is An Important Part Of Below Deck History
Rachel & Ben Are The Most Influential Below Deck Chefs
Chef Rachel was incredibly influential on theBelow Deckfranchise. Alongside Ben,she’s the most recognized chef of the franchise.Bravo attempts to replace her, but they can’t find someone to suffice. Chef Rachel is an anomaly of a crew member because of how much theBelow Deckfans love her. She’s quite the fan-favorite, and the show’s ratings would likely shoot through the roof if she returned. Chef Rachel and Ben are the only chefs from the franchise who served for three consecutive seasons, hinting their food and presence on the show were well received.
Rachel proved herself as one of the best chefs fromBelow Deckduring her three-season run. She became a fan-favorite crew member, and some are calling for her return to the show. It’d be shocking if Chef Rachel returned toBelow Deck, but the show would benefit from her homecoming.
Below Deck
Cast
Below Deck is a Reality television series and franchise that has seen many spinoffs since its creation in 2013. The original series follows the lives of a crew that lives on a Superyacht called Honor and chronicles their experiences during “charter season.”
