‘Below Deck’: Captain Jason Fires Sous Chef Anthony Before He Has Chance to Quit
Captain Jason Chambers wasn’t messing around on Monday’s (February 17) episode of Below Deck Down Under as he fired his first crew member before the second charter had even concluded.
The situation came about after sous chef Anthony Bird clashed with head chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph, leading to lots of back-and-forth bickering and high tension on the boat. Even though Chambers tried to get the two working on the same page, his efforts proved futile.
“We have to work together. You have some managing to do. It is your department, fix it,” Chambers told Mace-Ralph, per Us Weekly, adding to camera, “Every galley is full of egos with chefs. But at the end of the day, there is one head chef and a sous chef. He needs to step in line and she needs to take control.”
However, Mace-Ralph failed to control Bird, saying in confessional, “My mind has been racing so hard about how I am meant to manage Anthony to make him do what his job is and what I need him to do. It is early in the charter season so I need Jason to see that I can manage my own department.”
The two chefs continued to butt heads, with Bird claiming he felt he was been “taken advantage of.” Bird also felt insulted when Mace-Ralph said he should take a break and lie down, calling her “patronizing.”
“I just feel a bit insulted. I am struggling to get on with her,” Bird explained to a friend on the phone. “She’s an awkward character and I can’t work like this. I have to work in a dirty galley and put up with dirty food. I’m just caught within a weird situation for me to be in.”
He also threw shade at Mace-Ralph’s cooking, saying, “I am really glad to showcase my cooking style which is modern with flavor and a bit more passion put into it. Tzarina’s cooking is a little more basic with a flower on top.”
Things escalated when Bird was caught searching for a new job while still working on Chambers’ charter. “At this point, I am just a bit over it. She’s not a great manager and if I am being honest, I don’t respect her as a chef and I don’t feel like I am being treated like a human,” Bird said. “So I am ready to leave because I can’t take any more of this bull****.”
After realizing the situation wouldn’t resolve itself, Chambers told Mace-Ralph she could let Bird go if things weren’t working out. However, she didn’t get a chance to make a decision either way, because Bird told her he’d found another job and would be leaving after two more characters.
When Mace-Ralph passed this information on to Chambers, he flexed his captain’s powers and decided to fire Bird on the spot.
“You feel like the environment is not for you and you have a better opportunity? I just find it hard to be halfway through a season and jump off and find another job,” Chambers told the sous chef. “You can go today — this morning. Pack your stuff up there and that is just the way I operate.”
Season 3 of Below Deck Down Under follows Chambers, Mace-Ralph, and long-time deckhand Harry Van Vilet. They are joined by newbies bosun Wihan Du Toit, chief stew Lara Rigby, deckhands Johnny Arvanitis and Adair Werley, and stews Brianna Duffield and Marina Marcondes de Barros.
Below Deck Down Under, Season 3, Mondays, 8 pm et, Bravo
Conversation20 Comments
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G
Why would the sous chef accept a job that he felt was beneath him. I am so glad that Captain Jason let him go immediately! He also seemed to have a problem taking directions from a woman. He needs to grow up before taking the next job.
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P
He gave the wrong person his 2 week notice. The Captain is still the boss over the whole shìp!!!
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R
I think anthony needs to realize he's not all that and a bag of chips.
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G
That kid Anthony is his own worse enemy. Until he has an attitude adjustment he is going to be disappointed wherever he goes. He was lucky he wasn't working for Chef Ben. It would be fun to watch Anthony pull his "I am as good or better than you" with Ben. Or Rachel, so funny.
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G
He had such a bad attitude from the beginning.....
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C
First episode I thought Chef was a dick not to allow him to cook food and only do the prep and cleaning. But she opened up and gave him his chance. What an asshole he turned out to be… just a whiner and a dickhead… good riddance. I dont think he’ll survive in this industry with that attitude!
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G
Cloyce on Below deck Sailing Yach was only 22 and and more mature than the 26 year old Chav with notions of grandure that was Anthony.... the boy had main character syndrome and thought he was better than Tsarina
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G
He's young, hopefully he learns from this situation.
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P
Why do you think Capt Jason hired a sous chef for her?
She can’t cook worth anything and she has no idea how to manage anything! Her galley IS nasty. Her food is just like the Sous chef said. Basic with a flower on top. What a disappointment that her brought her back as well as Harry. What is he thinking!
However, we are VERY pleased that he did NOT bring Elisha back!
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P
I think that Starina-whoev, has too much of a man-issue! Remember how horribly rude she was to the new stew that turned Culver’s head in different direction in Season 1….AND in season 2 same man issues with JAOA!! He said he met all 5 of her on date!!lol!
Now here we are in Season 3 barely into it and she can’t work with her MAN SOUSE CHEF!! The problem is Starina….plus her food is boring & basic!
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R
Could you not give spoilers in a headline less than 24 hours after an episode has aired? My goodness, give us a chance to watch the thing.
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R
The networks always air the episodes that night, so best to wait until you watch the show before you get on the internet, Egghead.
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B
I love Cheffy but that kid was motivated and wanted more responsibility and she didn't utilize him. I also love Jason, however how can you be pissy when you've already given Cheffy the go ahead to fire him if she thinks he's not working out. He knew it was a bad fit and bolted first, Jason was a hypocrite in this situation
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R
I don't know what show you were watching, but she tried to get him to tell her what he was good and bad points were. He felt like he was being interviewed and he was above that. He gave her no help so she knew where he would helpful. He was hired as a SOUS CHEF. He was bitter bc he felt he was better for the job. He's a two faced misogynist.
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O
Nope. That little boy was too immature to be where he was. He seemed to think he was co-head chef. He didn’t seem to understand that he was SOU CHEF and he was there to ASSIST the head chef.
He needs to go out and learn how to work in the real world.
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P
You can't fire someone who has FOUND ANOTHER JOB and given you their TWO WEEKS NOTICE. They've already left while you're just trying to save face. That's just being PETTY for an Officer, Captain.
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C
You can and he did.
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O
He didn't give his two week notice. He told the chef not the captain
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R
Actually the reason he wasn't quitting til the next 2 charters is bc the other place didn't need him. He thought he was indispensable and he was. Jason was helping her to give her help and Anthony jumped the gun. He had issues with a woman was his boss.
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R
Oh yes you can! Especially in jobs where the employee can do damage, i.e., in legal jobs and retail. Responsible for food safety is another. If the employee is in a position to be able to sabotage, he or she should go.
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