There are traditional job interviews, which are surely daunting, and then there's Food Network Star: an 11-week journey that demands from its hopefuls not just a solid resume and a memorable first impression, but simply flawless culinary technique, a sparkly TV presence and the ability to hook an audience using little more than a camera lens. There's nothing quite like this at once grueling and transformative experience, which has been known to turn out best-of-the-business pros, including Guy Fieri, Jeff Mauro and Damaris Phillips. And beginning this June, two culinary legends, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, will once again scour the county in hope of discovering star power.

That's right, fans. Food Network Star, Season 11 is set to kick off in Los Angeles this summer (Sunday, June 7 at 9|8c). And in true Hollywood style, the lights of potential stardom will be shining bright as 12 eager finalists arrive for their chance at the most-sought-after career in the culinary industry: Food Network host. Led by judge-mentors Bobby and Giada, these rivals must put their dreams on the line as they take a chance on their futures during an intensive three-month process. Like last year's competitors, finalists will face weekly Mentor and Star Challenges. But with Bobby and Giada at the helm alongside a host of rotating special-guest judges, including Duff Goldman, Sunny Anderson, Richard Blais and David Alan Grier, you can be sure that unprecedented tests and downright shocking twists will force these contestants to learn quickly that the role of Star isn't as simple as the hosts make it look.

Come August, there can be only one winner, but that doesn't mean the road to victory will be clear. For finalists previously stung by the pain of elimination, their hopes for triumph aren't wholly lost — that is, if they can survive Star Salvation. This Web-exclusive series on FoodNetwork.com is designed to find the one finalist who's worthy of joining the on-air contest, and who better to lead the hopefuls on their journey to potential redemption than no-nonsense Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli and Food Network Star, Season 7 winner Jeff Mauro? Over the course of six episodes, they'll mentor and guide the ousted rivals though a series of both culinary-centric and camera-focused tests before ultimately deciding who's ready to rejoin the Food Network Star competition.

Alex McCoy (Washington, D.C.)
Arnold Myint (Nashville)
Christina Fitzgerald (St. Louis)
Dominick Tesoriero (Staten Island, N.Y.)
Eddie Jackson (Houston)
Emilia Cirker (Reston, Va.)
Jay Ducote (Baton Rouge, La.)
Matthew Grunwald (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Michelle Karam (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Rosa Graziano (Los Angeles)
Rue Rusike (Brooklyn)
Sita Lewis (New York)

Set your calendar for a summer of stardom beginning Sunday, June 7 at 9|8c.