By MSN TV

Culinary superstar Bobby Flay returns to "Food Network Star" as a mentor premiering Sunday, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Food Network. This Iron Chef and host of "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay" and "Boy Meets Grill," will now take on Season 8 alongside Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown as they compete to mentor their competitors for the ultimate prize of having their own show on The Food Network.

Bing: More about 'Food Network Star' | More on Bobby Flay

MSN TV: "Food Network Star" is about to begin Season 8, can you tell us about the brand new format for the show?

Bobby Flay: Yes, I am no longer a judge anymore. Giada and I have left the judging table and with Alton we'll be mentoring people. We each have a team of five we're mentoring and are competing against each other. The winner, whoever it is, that person's mentor will get to produce their show.

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Can you give us a sampling of any dramatic moments we have to look forward to in the new season?

There are some pretty dramatic moments in the first week. Each team has to open up a restaurant. They have to create the menu, cook the food, design the decor and name the restaurant. So you can imagine the drama that comes with all of that.

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What's it like working with Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown on the show?

We're all really good friends. We've all been colleagues for a long time but never worked together like this where we're competing against each other. So it brought out the competitive juices in all of us. Of course in the very best way. You'll see the different aspects of our personalities come through more than ever.

What's the most difficult aspect of being a mentor?

Telling people the truth about how they are doing. It's not all peaches and cream, so that was tough. Really being honest with people and getting them to think about how to make it better. The hardest part was when I would lose somebody.

Did you ever think the combination of food with television would become this dynamic? What do you think attracts viewers to shows about food?

It's really amazing how popular food on TV has gotten. I'm not surprised by it, however. We've been going in this direction for the last 15 -- 20 years so to see it become a huge aspect of lifestyle on TV makes perfect sense. Food is the one thing we all have in common, whether we like it, don't like it or are interested in it. Whatever it is, we all have an opinion about food. So it definitely makes perfect sense that people are attracted to it now more than ever. Whether it's watching people eat it, cook it, fumble with different ideas and compete, food on TV is here forever.

Who do you look up to in the culinary world?

Wolfgang Puck, who's helped revolutionize food in this country and Jonathan Waxman, who owns Barbuto. Jonathan was the first chef that I worked for that really taught me about good food. Those are the two people I really look up to.

You have a demanding schedule with so many things going on, are you ever able to detach from work? What do you like to do on your days off?

I like to cook. It's true! I like to cook at my house for my friends and my family. It's a great way to relax for me.

More: Is your favorite show returning next season?

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"Food Network Star" premieres Sunday, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Food Network.

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