Chef Josh Bingham Is Losing His Mind: “This Is A F–ing Nightmare” | Below Deck Med
Chef Josh Bingham Is Losing His Mind: "This Is A F--ing Nightmare" | Below Deck Med
This lunch wasn’t really about the food.
It was about expectation vs. communication.
The chef cooked like he was serving a tasting menu at a boutique Mediterranean restaurant:
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Fresh salads
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Oysters and caviar
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Hamachi
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Thoughtful vegan dishes
The guests showed up wanting:
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Fried food
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Hot food
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Comfort food
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Big portions
That’s not “bad taste.” It’s just a mismatch.
The Vegan Conflict
The key moment:
“Even as a vegan, I don’t just eat salad. That’s an appetizer just like everybody else.”
That’s actually fair.
A lot of chefs make the mistake of thinking:
Vegan = leafy greens + chickpeas.
But vegans still want:
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Warm dishes
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Protein-heavy options
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Texture
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Indulgence
If everyone else is getting lobster and fried oysters, and your “main” feels like a side dish, it’s going to feel unequal — even if it tastes good.
The issue wasn’t flavor.
It was satisfaction.
The Guest Who Asked for Fried Oysters
That wasn’t criticism.
That was craving.
Some people want:
Luxury = caviar.
Others want:
Luxury = perfectly fried comfort food.
Neither is wrong.
But when someone says:
“Is this it for lunch?”
That’s code for:
“I’m still hungry.”
And that’s a chef’s nightmare.
Why the Chef Spiraled
You can hear it:
“This is the first charter that the guests don’t like my food. This is a nightmare.”
That’s ego + pressure.
On yachts, food is the main performance.
If the food doesn’t land, it feels personal.
Then the dinner requests come in:
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Mashed potatoes
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Fries
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Pasta
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Fried chicken wings
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Fish
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Vegan options
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Risotto
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Snapper
That’s not a menu.
That’s a buffet of conflicting cravings.
He’s thinking artistry.
They’re thinking abundance.
The Smart Move (What Would Fix This)
Family style was actually the right call.
Why?
Because when preferences are chaotic:
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Variety reduces complaints.
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Sharing feels generous.
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Nobody feels limited.
If he reframes it from:
“They have bad taste.”
to:
“They want comfort.”
He wins.
Add:
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One elevated fish dish
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One indulgent fried element
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One hearty vegan main (not a salad)
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A starch everyone loves
Suddenly he’s the hero again.
The deeper theme here?
Luxury doesn’t always mean sophisticated.
Sometimes luxury just means:
“You gave me exactly what I was craving.”
And that’s harder than it sounds.
