Food Network Star is bringing the heat in the Season 14 premiere, with the first-of-its-kind episode in Florida. But before the fun in the sun — and some inevitable drama — begins on June 10, we’ve got the first interviews with all the hopefuls. Read on below to get to know them.

With his colorful and happy personality, there is nothing that can break Jason’s spirit. A chiropractor by day, Jason, 40, runs his culinary blog in his spare time, where he gets to share his true love of easy comfort food with short culinary essays and recipes. Jason finished in the top 10 of Rachael Ray’s cookbook contest, while also teaching cooking classes where he showcases his rich flavors and comfort food tips. Whether it is cheesy meatballs or a bacon-infused burger, you will want to eat Jason’s food on the couch on a Sunday afternoon.

Describe your culinary POV in one sentence.
I am a happy comfort food food blogger.

What made you fall in love with food?
Since I was a little kid, the first bite you take makes you so happy and so satisfied.

What technical kitchen skill are you best at?
Anything to do with cheese, bacon or pork. Those are my specialties.

What's your signature dish?
I’ve got a lot of them. But my meatloaf Parmesan. It’s got a beautiful top hat that melts down the meatloaf, and then inside is a surprise of more cheese.

What do you say to people who think they can't learn how to cook?
It’s so easy. The first step is what I call cooking yoga. I’m a food blogger, so my whole job is inspiring people to cook. Cooking yoga is like that fancy phrase mise en place. All that means is go down the ingredients and chop and put them on paper plates or little cups. That will totally make cooking so much fun. Then you get to dance with the sizzle and all the fun stuff.

Let's say it's a regular Tuesday night and you're at home. What's for dinner?
I would probably make some of baked pasta dish that I’m testing for my blog, or I’d make a meatloaf or something that I can create something else out of for the rest of the week so we have leftovers.

Who's your food/chef spirit animal?
So easy. Ina Garten. She’s my best friend in my head.

What's something very few people know about you?
My favorite word is gratitude. Even in the most stressful times, even if I’m as sad as I can, I always look for what the lesson is and the “why.” So in the future, I don’t try to avoid it because life just happens. But I just try to be inspired by that so I can find the good in anything.

Food pics in restaurants: yay or nay. Why?
My husband gets so annoyed. When we’re in dark restaurants, I make him turn on the light on his cell phone camera, so I have him put it on the food while I take a picture. No shame.