Chef Ryan McKeown was in charge of the galley back onBelow Deck Down Underseason 1, but what has he been up to since appearing in the Bravo spin-off?Below Deck Down Underseason 3is well underway, with Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph struggling to stay afloat afterSous Chef Anthony Bird’s sudden departure. Captain Jason Chambers sided with Chef Tzarina again after she clashed with Anthony, who felt his role as a Sous Chef was beneath him on the superyacht. Rather than wait it out,Captain Jason chose to fire Anthonyon the spot.
Chef Tzarina isn’t the only cast member having a tough season, but issues seem to be piling up for the British Chef. Not only did her Sous Chef abruptly leave, but she still had to prepare crew food while maintaining luxury yacht standards for the guests. Meanwhile, her crush, Bosun Wihan Tu Toit, seemed more interested in Stew Marina Marcondes de Barros than Chef Tzarina after their passionate, drunken kiss during a game of Truth or Dare. However, before Chef Tzarina made her mark, Chef Ryan was the original culinary expert onboard. Here’s what he’s up to now.
Chef Ryan’s Journey On Below Deck Down Under
He Was Fired By Captain Jason
Chef Ryan made his way Down Under from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning his culinary training in his dad’s pizzeria. As he transitioned to yachting, he was hired as the Chef for the inaugural season ofBelow Deck Down Underalongside Chief Stew Aesha Scott, with whom he had numerous clashes. Aesha is one of the easiest people to get along with, so making her angry took some real talent.
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Guests were also repeatedly let down by Chef Ryan’s food standards. There was the whole English tea debacle, which was the beginning of the end. Another terrible decision to serve tacos aboard a luxury superyacht, combined with his bad attitude and tensions with other crew members, led to his dismissal by Captain Jason. Chef Ryan later admitted he gave up early on and was exploring yachting for fun. It was a short-lived exploration.
Chef Ryan Has A Pizza Shop In Miami
He Sells Pizzas And Cheesesteaks
ChefRyandidn’t let hisBelow Deck Down Underfiring get him down. He opened a pizza shop in Miami called Peppi’s Pizza, and the restaurant seems to be doing well. Located in Miami’s Design District,Chef Ryan brings a slice of Philly to South Floridawith his uniquely upscale yet accessible pizza joint. Peppi’s opened in December 2024, and the cool spot goes from a lunch joint to a bougie restaurant by night.
“Miami, get ready for a delicious shake-up! Peppi’s Pizza is opening soon in the Miami Design District, and we’re here to change the game! Say goodbye to overpriced vibe dining and hello to mouthwatering pizza, cheesesteaks, and hoagies that won’t break the bank. Come see what all the buzz is about and taste the difference for yourself! Stay tuned for our grand opening—your taste buds will thank you! #PeppisPizza #MiamiEats #PizzaLovers @52chefs”
According to thePeppi’s Pizzawebsite, Chef Ryan’s pizza dough undergoes a meticulous 72-hour fermentation process, which makes up the unique crust. Menu highlights feature the classic red pizza with mozzarella, pecorino, and Sicilian oregano; a white pizza with roasted garlic and herb cream; and the “upside down” pizza where the sauce is layered on top. There are also tasty hoagies, which Chef Ryan claims are the only real cheesesteaks in Miami.
Chef Ryan has amassed over 12,000 followers on Instagram, where he advertises Peppi’s Pizza. However, fans cannot forget his disastrous tenure onBelow Deck Down Under. Even years later, comments like “This looks almost as dry as those brisket tacos that you forgot on the boat for the beach episode,” and “You literally didn’t have a positive thing to say about anything, were openly contemptuous towards guests, and threw a bottle at some strangers head.” Ryan was right to putBelow Deckbehind him.
Chef Ryan Has Distanced Himself From The Below Deck Franchise
He’s Moved On
Chef Ryan distanced himself fromBelow Deck Down Underand the franchise at large after Captain Jason fired him. Known for his abrasive attitude and clashes with crew members and guests, particularly Captain Jason and Aesha,Ryan didn’t leave the series on good terms. Following his exit, he was vocal in interviews and on social media about his disdain for the show, often criticizing the production process and claiming his portrayal was manipulated for drama.
Chef Ryan doubled down on his behavior after leaving Below Deck Down Under.
Unlike many otherBelow Deckalums who leverage their appearances to build their yachting or media careers, Chef Ryan has seemingly stepped away from both reality TV and the high-end yachting industry, focusing instead on Peppi’s Pizza. He has maintained a defiant stance, showing little interest in a redemption arc onBelow Deck Down Under.
Below Deck Down Underairs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
