A father of two, Chad Rosenthal, 37, lives in Ambler, Pa., and is passionate about all things barbecue and has won several barbecue competitions in the past. Now opening a comfort food eatery near Philadelphia, this self-taught cook grew up hosting a pretend cooking show for his family. He's now eager to turn that childhood hobby into a career.

Click the play button on the video to watch Chad's casting video.

Visit the Food Network Star Headquarters for more exclusive interviews, plus behind-the-scenes images and videos of the finalists and mentors, and tune in to the Season 9 premiere on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c.

Andres Guillama, 26, was born into a traditional Cuban family and grew up working at his father's restaurant. After struggling with his weight, Andres changed his daily habits and lost 150 pounds. Now living in Waynesville, N.C., he's a childhood obesity prevention coach working with children on the basics of nutrition. He's eager to show viewers that healthy food is indeed deliciously satisfying, and he looks forward to showing them how to prepare it at home.

Click the play button on the video below to watch Andres' casting video.

Visit the Food Network Star Headquarters for more exclusive interviews, plus behind-the-scenes images and videos of the finalists and mentors, and tune in to the Season 9 premiere on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c.

Tell us a bit about what you do. What does a typical day look like for you?
Susie: Busy! I have the best team in the business, but it takes a lot of meetings, brainstorming and work sessions to keep this ship sailing. We’re all pretty much nonstop from the minute we get into the office, but we also all manage to have a good work/life balance, which is the most important thing.

Working at Food Network must mean you're surrounded by food all day, or at least thinking about it. Do you like to cook at home?
SF: Yes, my family recently moved to a new apartment in Brooklyn with a lovely, open kitchen, and we use dinnertime as family time. Cooking is a great relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day, have some fun with my kids and do something healthy for my family.

What's your favorite type of cuisine, whether to cook or eat out?
SF: I’m from Los Angeles, and you just can’t beat the delicious authentic Mexican food I grew up eating as a kid. As a result, I’m a sucker for fresh, crunchy flavors like tortillas, salads, fish tacos and anything in a wrap.

Do you have a favorite Food Network recipe?
SF: Anything by Giada — my family loves her recipes.

What was your most-memorable meal? What, where, with who — details, please!
SF: My husband and I love Blue Ribbon in Brooklyn; they have amazing Kumamoto oysters that they shuck right in the front of the restaurant. We like to sit at the bar, have oysters and sip on their delicious ginger martinis. It’s the perfect night out!

This is the ninth season of Food Network Star. Has it gotten easier for you to tell who the most-promising contenders from day one are?
SF: I think so, yes. You can usually spot that glimmer in someone’s eyes that indicates they’ve got something special, some wildly creative or unique perspective that makes them stand out. But you also have to keep in mind that some people are like fine wine and they need time to ripen. Those are the folks that can surprise you, and it’s worth being open-minded and patient and wait for them to reveal themselves during the process.

What's one of the most important things you've learned from past seasons of the show that you carried with you into this upcoming season?
SF: That you need to have an open mind because there are so many different ways to partner with talent and so many avenues to pursue. Oddly enough, I find that someone with a very distinct and strong point of view is often the person that reaches the most audiences. In this fragmented media landscape, a specific point of view is really attractive and important.

Has there ever been an instance when you and Bob have felt one away about a particular finalist, but the other judges — Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis — felt differently? How was it resolved?
SF: Of course. It happens every season! It’s just not normal for five people to agree on everything, and I think that’s one of the things that makes the show feel interesting and real. There’s no one way to resolve a disagreement — usually it comes down to everyone passionately pleading their case until we come up with a resolution that feels right. There’s a bit of lawyering involved.

Fill in the blanks: A Food Network star must be ________, must enjoy ________ and must be able to ________.

SF: Must be one of a kind and effusive, must enjoy food and people, and must be able to be consistent yet creative.

Related Reading:

• Chatting With Food Network Star's Bob Tuschman
• Coming This Summer: Food Network Star Season 9

Tell us a bit about what you do. What does a typical day look like for you?
Bob: My limousine picks me up at noon. I try to get a good half-hour of work in before heading off to lunch with one of our stars. Depending on how many martinis, I usually go straight home to prepare for another stressful day!

Oh, for real? My day is usually back-to-back meetings. My (extraordinary) programmers and I review show pitches, brainstorm new ideas, and watch rough cuts of new episodes and series. I also meet with agents, producers and our stars to talk about new projects. It’s fun! And they pay me.

Working at Food Network must mean you're surrounded by food all day, or at least thinking about it. Do you like to cook at home?
BT: On Sundays I usually make a stew or pasta, which I use as a “main” all week long. So when I get home weeknights, I steam a few veggies, drizzle on olive oil and reheat the weekend dish. Dinner is on the table in about 10 minutes. I’m asleep in about 15.

What's your favorite type of cuisine, whether to cook or eat out?
BT: Anything Mediterranean. I love the sun-drenched cuisines that rely on vegetables/fish/olive oil/beans and, of course, wine, so: Italian, French, Spanish, Greek, Moroccan.

Do you have a favorite Food Network recipe?
BT: No, but I swear I’ve used all 50,000.

What was your most-memorable meal? What, where, with who — details, please.
BT: My favorite memories: Sitting with Ina on her porch on a lush summer evening, splitting a pitcher of her frosty margaritas and noshing on her homemade guacamole and chips. Lunch at Bobby’s summer home — splitting a bottle of rose while he grilled freshly caught snapper … A pasta feast Giada made for a few of her Food Network Star friends … sipping a Prosecco and watching the sunset over the Pacific. I swear we don’t only drink together.

This is the ninth season of Food Network Star. Has it gotten easier for you to tell who the most-promising contenders from day one are?
BT: There are always a few who have a natural charisma and bigger-than-life energy that instantly catch my eye. They usually become not just my favorite, but viewer favorites.

What's one of the most important things you've learned from past seasons of the show that you carried with you into this upcoming season?
BT: Never stand next to Susie when she’s in 6-inch heels. I look like a very old third-grader.

Has there ever been an instance when you and Susie have felt one away about a particular finalist, but the other judges — Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis — felt differently? How was it resolved?
BT: Remember, Alton, Bobby and Giada are all accomplished producers, besides being stars. So while the five of us often disagree, it rarely splits along lines as cleanly as Bob and Susie on one side, and the stars on the other. We’re all executives with differing viewpoints. Ultimately, the majority rules.

What's something about filming the show that fans at home might not realize?
BT: The judging sessions — a few minutes of TV time — take hours and hours and hours to tape. They’re really mentoring sessions, not judging. We spend a lot of time trying to “grow” each finalist to achieve their Star potential.

Fill in the blanks: A Food Network star must be ________, must enjoy ________ and must be able to ________.
BT: Must be electric, must enjoy talking to a single glass lens and must be able to live life on a bigger scale than you or me.

Related Reading:

• Chatting With Food Network Star's Susie Fogelson
• Coming This Summer: Food Network Star Season 9

As you prepare for an unprecedented new season (premiering Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c), test your knowledge of Star history, past finalists and guest-judge appearances, plus top recipes, seasons' highlights and winners' crowning moments. Take the quiz below to find out if you're the ultimate Star superfan, then browse Food Network's Star headquarters for insider interviews, exclusive videos, behind-the-scenes photos and more from the show.

The ninth season of this life-changing competition is set to start on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c, when contenders will travel to Los Angeles to begin an 11-week journey, complete with all-new Mentor and Star Challenges, surprise chef guests and on-location demands. For the finalists, simply showing off advanced cooking chops or shining camera-ready smiles won't be enough. If they want to survive weekly eliminations, they'll have to work their way to the coveted Star sweet spot, demonstrating both a mastery of the kitchen and an effortless television charm.

Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis will be back to mentor the contestants through each phase of the competition, but this season they're doing so from across the judges' table as members of the selection committee. Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson will be on hand, as well, praising and critiquing hopefuls in an effort to discover the next fresh face of the network. Focus groups will also be invited to challenges, not just to watch what goes down, but to share their reviews with Alton, Bobby and Giada — and impact judging. For the first time this season, one finalist will be brought back after elimination for another chance at victory.

While the selection committee must decide who stays and who goes each week, it will be up to you — Star fans — to choose who will ultimately be your next Food Network Star. Just like last year, there will be a live finale fan vote to determine the winner at the end of the season, when you'll have the chance to support your favorite finalist by voting for him or her to take the win.

Meet the Season 9 competitors below, then check out the Food Network Star headquarters for more insider coverage of the show all season long.

Andres Guillama (Waynesville, N.C.)
Chad Rosenthal (Ambler, Penn.)
Chris Hodgson (Cleveland)
Connie “Lovely” Jackson (Los Angeles)
Damaris Phillips (Louisville, Ky.)
Daniela Perez-Reyes (Haleiwa, Hawaii)
Danushka Lysek (New York)
Nikki Dinki (New York)
Rodney Henry (Baltimore)
Russell Jackson (San Francisco)
Stacey Poon-Kinney (Spring Valley, Calif.)
Viet Pham (Salt Lake City)

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’d like to talk to the three people who didn’t win this past Sunday. Michele, Yvan and Martie: You guys battled your hearts out and I know this must be a hard time for you. It might get even harder; after something as momentous as this competition, there’s an inevitable adrenaline crash. It might even creep up on you long after all the Star talk dies down. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you find yourself struggling with a serious case of the mopes for a little bit. Months of emotions, self-reflection and physical/psychological exertion take their toll.

And know that this isn’t the end of the road by any means. Just look at the careers of Kelsey Nixon, Jeffrey Saad and Tom Pizzica, to name a few. This is the springboard, the beginning of something. One of my idols, Christiane Amanpour, talks about how strongly she believes in the power of mistakes, the power of “failure” to propel you, to teach you, to refine you. She said that our generation is afraid of making mistakes, and perhaps it’s because we are so obsessed with perfection. But no one learns from perfection, certainly not me. So take a break, be kind to yourself, and then go grab your horse, saddle her up and get back on. Your journey isn’t over yet, loves.

To Justin, CONGRATULATIONS! And welcome to the family! The network of Food Network Star winners is small but tight, so I think I can safely speak for all of us in saying that we’ve got your back should you need anything. You better get used to us hugging you like we’ve known you forever.

Actually, that brings me to the first of three (unsolicited) pieces of advice:

1) Enjoy the hugs
You better get used to everyone hugging you like they know you. One of the most rewarding parts of this job, for me at least, is the smile that spreads over someone’s face when they recognize me. At first, I got more out of those encounters than they did, I’m sure! I’d be shocked and on a high for a while, because let’s face it, it’s not so bad to be told how much you are loved. But then I started to realize that it does just as much for the hugger as for the huggee. I remember how happy I was when I met actor Ron Perlman at a coffee shop one day because I got to tell him how much I love his work, his voice, his everything — it put a skip in my step and changed my day. And even now, when I see him on screen I think, I met that guy, and I smile like a kid on Christmas morning.

So don’t ever get jaded about this part. Take the time to love on every fan, every person that gets up the guts to come up and say hi — even when you’re tired and annoyed and wondering whether you made the right decision (it happens to all of us). This is perhaps the best part of the job. You get to makes someone’s day. It’s both a gift and a responsibility. Just like Spider-Man.

2) Ignore the haters (mostly)
There’s a funny thing about human nature: We find it much easier to tear things down than to build them up. Maybe it’s a gravity thing.

You might find that there are some rather strong opinions out there about you, both negative and positive. And that’s a good thing. You want people who are incredibly loyal to you, and, sadly, that comes at a price: people who really aren’t into you. We’re a funny species, aren’t we? In any case, being polarizing is a great thing. You don’t want to engender a simple shrug of the shoulders; you want people to be galvanized by what you’re doing.

That said, try not to give the haters too much of your attention. When I won, my journalistic background kicked in, and I tried to listen to both sides and evaluate from there. But, being a people-pleaser, here’s the thing I found: One negative comment, even if it isn’t reasonable, will outweigh 20 positive ones. So it’s just best to ignore them altogether. Better still, have someone whom you trust sift through the word on the street for you. If there’s a reasonable criticism that surfaces over and over, then perhaps that’s something you need to work on, because none of us are perfect.

3) Write an essay
Or something. Before the craziness of flying every week and being pulled in 10 different directions sets in, be sure you know who you are, what’s important to you and what you want to accomplish. Be specific, be silly, dream HUGE and dream down to the last detail. Write it all out and tuck it away somewhere, then check in on that every few months. Susie Fogelson actually advised me to do something like that and when I stumbled upon the list a year later, I realized that I’d forgotten a lot of what I’d set out to do. It’s easy to get distracted from your goal. Stay as true to the real you as possible, polishing where necessary but not so much that you lose all your rough edges; those spiky bits are what make you YOU! Don’t be so afraid to lose this thing that you squeeze all the life out of it, and forget that your particular flavor is what people responded to in the first place.

And I suppose that’s it. Justin and I have already talked a little (told you that the Food Network Star fam is tight), but I can’t wait to actually hug him in person.

Oh, and thank you guys so much for reading this little blog every week. I hope that it’s been entertaining and perhaps, to potential Season 9 participants, informative. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen cooking but you can always find me on my Facebook and Twitter pages, and on my personal blog, aartipaarti.com.

As finalists were sent home from the pitch room, they left behind their Star journals. Each of these notebooks offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into a finalist's Star experience. Who made meticulous prep lists for every dish? Who wrote diary-like reflections about the competition? Who drew quirky, hilarious sketches to illustrate his anxiousness when larger-than-life Star alum Guy Fieri appeared on set? OK, that last one (pictured below) could only be the work of our newly crowned winner, Justin Warner.

Relive this memorable season with a look back at all 15 Star Scrapbooks.

Justin Warner (Winner!)

Martie Duncan (Runner-up)

Yvan Lemoine (Runner-up)

Michele Ragussis (Runner-up)

Nikki Martin (Eliminated Week 10)

Philip "Ippy" Aiona (Eliminated Week 10)

Martita Jara (Eliminated Week 9)

Malcolm Mitchell (Eliminated Week 8 )

Emily Ellyn (Eliminated Week 7)

Linkie Marais (Eliminated Week 6)

Judson Allen (Eliminated Week 5)

Eric Lee (Eliminated Week 4)

Josh Lyons (Eliminated Week 3)

Kara Sigle (Eliminated Week 2)

Cristie Schoen (Eliminated Week 1)

If you missed the intense season finale or any of the action this season, catch up here with full episodes and online-only video extras.

See you next season, Star fans!

He stopped by Food Network’s offices on Monday to join a Facebook chat with some of his biggest fans. Offering a rarely seen glimpse of what makes him tick, Justin answered fans’ questions about everything — his hopes for his new show, the craziest meal he’s ever made, his favorite movies, hair product of choice and more. Read on for some of the best moments from our Q&A session with Justin and get to know this Rebel With a Culinary Cause.

Debbie Smith: Congratulations, Justin! Has the shock worn off yet? My question is: In five years, what other projects would you like to do for FN? I ask this because many of the stars branch out after their first show settles in. For example, Guy with his Big Bites, DDD and hosting cook-offs.

Justin Warner (JW): No, the shock has not worn off. I'm still stupefied. I think there is an array of applications for someone like myself.

Regina Petrucci: What's your favorite moment from being on the show?

JW: My favorite moment was when Martie got to make a pilot too.

Maria Eivers Medley: What was the one experience on the show that you wish you could have done differently or do over again?

JW: I rarely live with regrets, but I could have come out of the box a little stronger and been a better leader. Probably could have tried to defend my team a little better.

Alicia Kaity Audette: So excited for you! Any ideas on the format of your upcoming show? And will Martie be a guest?

JW: I'm open-minded and excited to meet professionals as this is my first time doing a TV show. If Martie Duncan can make an appearance, I would be honored!

Jessica Ng: Justin! Congratulations on becoming the next Food Network Star!! Since Alton Brown was your mentor and main "cheerleader," what is the number one lesson he has taught you that you will teach America in your new series?

JW: Everybody has something to teach. You just have to find out what you're here to teach. I'm here to teach people not to be scared of being wacky, because we're all a little bit wacky.

Katy Franks: What do you think will be your biggest challenge being a Food Network star?

JW: Waking up early will be my biggest challenge!

Carol Gardener Pike: Hi, Justin ... CONGRATULATIONS from Alabama! When you wake up hungry for a snack in the middle of the night, what do you reach for??

JW: Good question. I reach for dried squid (love that stuff!).

Rebekah Anne Faulk: What 3 ingredients couldn't you live without?

JW: The three ingredients I can't live without (aside from salt) are yuzu, vanilla and 350-degree oil. I love frying stuff!

Nicole Leigh Morris: I know you like foods that stretch boundaries, but what is your favorite "normal" food?

JW: Pizza, corn on the cob and strawberry-rhubarb pie are my favorite "normal" foods.

Jorden Helton: What is the most outrageous thing you have ever cooked?

JW: The most outrageous thing I have ever cooked ... that's tough! I made a pig filled with chicken filled with eggs — that's the most outrageous one in recent memory. I also made waffle stuffing that was AMAZING.

Kelsey Nguyen: What is your favorite film?

JW: The Muppets (new). Or Star Wars (old).

Kristel LaFreniere: What hair products do you use? Love the pouf.

JW: I prefer Bumble & Bumble hair products.

Visit Food Network for more scoop on the Star finale and flip through Justin’s behind-the-scenes scrapbook to get an insider’s look at this brand-new star.

Justin, if you had to describe in one word the feeling you had right before they announced the winner, what would it be?

JW: Nuts.

What's something you took away from this experience?

JW: I realized I have a strong desire to teach people. I never knew that until I saw the reaction of fans in the audience and on Twitter. I say to myself, "Wow! They trust me with that?" Because a year and a half ago, I didn't even know how to cook. To now be an authority on these things, at least in some people's eyes, it's amazing and I'll never forget that.

You and Alton have a very special relationship. It seems as if you're his protégé — you even used a clip from Good Eats in your pilot. How does that make you feel?

JW: First and foremost, it's an incredible weight put on me. Alton said, "You have the ability to represent a brand I created and take it further." To have that blessing was a paternal push I'd never felt before. Like, here, baby bird, go. It's an incredible honor, truthfully.

When you first started this competition, did you set out to create a show like that or was that something you two decided at the end of your process?

JW: Well, I'm a big fan of Good Eats because he tells you how to practically cook things. But as you can see, I'm not a very practical person. The idea though is that I've used a lot of those concepts to create the foundations of the things at my restaurant and in my life. For example, I'll take something that is normal and I'll go wild with it. To have the definite answer for normal in a decidedly abnormal, but revolutionary show, which is Good Eats — to have that as a starting point is nuts.

After the curtain fell to the ground and you saw your portrait on the wall with other Food Network stars like Guy and Rachael, how did you feel?

JW: I felt like the new software was being installed. It's not just a new chapter; it's like a new book. It's like a series you thought would never be picked up — I have no idea what I felt like! This is something I believe in, but I didn't know other people believed in it as strongly as I did. When you're a rebel, you never expect anyone to go with you on a cause, but I think this was the right time and the right place.

What do you have to say to all your fans out there who voted for you?

JW: Thanks for the support. I have the best fans, especially on Twitter. They're so funny, cool and so creative — one even made a rap video about me. There are Tumblrs out there about me cooking. I never would have thought this was possible.

Check out the the full exclusive video of our interview with Justin and conversations with runners-up Martie, Yvan and Michele. Plus, check out the final four Star Scrapbooks and flip through the best moments of the finale.

Questions for Justin? Chat with the winner himself in a live Facebook chat TODAY at 3pm EST.

What did you think about Justin's big win? Share your thoughts on the finale in the comments.