Chef Anthony Iracane is making his return to Below Deck in an unexpected twist—he’s back just as Chef Lawrence Snowden prepares to step away from the galley. Though Anthony left season 11 on a rocky note and was temporarily replaced by Nick Tatlock, he’s now rejoining the crew in season 12. The surprising part? Fraser Olender was the one to recommend him.
In the latest episode, Lawrence announced his resignation early on, admitting he couldn’t handle the mounting pressure—even before the guests arrived. As a result, Anthony was brought back, but the handover between the two chefs may not go as smoothly as planned.
In a preview of the upcoming episode, Lawrence introduces Anthony to the galley setup. While everything appears cordial on the surface, Anthony is clearly apprehensive. In a confessional, he notes that sharing a kitchen with another strong personality can be “very challenging,” and hints that “it’s going to be a big fight at the end.”
Anthony adds that he’s not used to having anyone else in the kitchen. “My whole life, I’ve never been with anyone in the galley or in the kitchen,” he says, making it clear that co-cheffing could be a difficult adjustment. He anticipates potential friction, saying both chefs will want to prove themselves, and that kind of energy might spark a rivalry.
Meanwhile, Fraser gets some surprising news during the preference sheet meeting: the next group of charter guests will be staying for five days. Adding to the pressure, one of them has a shellfish allergy—an essential detail the kitchen team needs to manage perfectly.
At the end of the clip, Anthony calls himself “the tornado,” while Lawrence jokingly claims he’s “the anti-tornado”—a clear indication that their styles and temperaments are polar opposites.
What This Could Mean for Below Deck
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This setup appears to foreshadow a likely feud between the two chefs. While things are civil for now, Anthony’s own words suggest that tension is on the horizon. Sharing the galley during a longer-than-usual charter could intensify those challenges.
Longtime fans of the show may recall how past chef pairings—like Tzarina and her sous chef on Below Deck Down Under—didn’t always go smoothly, even with the intention of easing the workload. Instead of support, the added personality sometimes just brought more stress.
Our Thoughts on the Anthony-Lawrence Dynamic
It seems like the producers knew exactly what they were doing when they scheduled a five-day charter at the same time as this chef transition. With two strong personalities in the kitchen and limited time to adapt, tension is almost guaranteed. Expect this storyline to unfold over several episodes, especially if the drama continues to simmer—or boil over.
