Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay as seen in "Food Network Star"

The glitz. The glamor. The teeming throngs of adoring fans. The food -- ah, the food! The lives of Food Network chefs are fabulous ones, at least in the minds of those who aspire to join their ranks, and once a year the specialty channel gives those hopefuls with dreams of stardom a chance to make that dream come true.

"Food Network Star" is back for a 13th season Sunday, June 4. Two of the network's biggest stars, Bobby Flay ("Beat Bobby Flay") and Giada De Laurentiis ("Giada at Home"), return as the hosts, mentors and judges for 12 hopefuls with stars in their eyes who are aching to land their very own Food Network show.

That's a pretty big prize -- so big, in fact, that it can't be contained in just one show. Last season's two "Food Network Star" companion series are back, too, giving Flay and De Laurentiis even more to work with as they consider who should be the eventual winner.

The first companion, "Food Network Star: Comeback Kitchen," has been running former "Food Network Star" contestants through a gauntlet of challenges for the past three weeks. These folks hit it off with audiences in past seasons, and after three episodes of competing, one of them is ready to join the newcomers in the June 4 premiere.

Then there's "Star Salvation," a companion web series available at Food Network's website (www.foodnetwork.com). Hosted by former "Food Network Star" winner Jeff Mauro ("The Kitchen") and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli ("Chopped"), it's a chance for each week's eliminated contestant to earn his or her way back into the competition. The ultimate winner of "Star Salvation" will return to "Food Network Star" just in time to join the final four in the Aug. 6 episode.

While some "Food Network Star" winners of seasons past have faded into relative obscurity, be it due to scheduling conflicts or other circumstances, others have gone on to become some of the channel's most familiar faces -- a fact best embodied by season 2's winner Guy Fieri, host of "Guy's Big Bite," "Guy's Grocery Games" and, of course, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

The next Guy Fieri could be in the wings just waiting for the chance to become Food Network's next celebrity chef. "Food Network Star" premiers Sunday, June 4.