An audition for the next bubbly Rachael Ray or earthy Emeril Lagasse would be rowdy, right? You'd think the personalities would be bouncing off the walls as chefs rumbled over who made the best coq au vin.

But yesterday's atmosphere at the Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge at the Bulfinch Hotel was tense and quiet, almost like a classroom in which students wait to take the SAT. The Next Food Network Star had plenty of applicants, but they were silent, too busy filling out forms to speak.

The applications were a hurdle and probably discouraged any potential contestant who wasn't completely committed to the task. The contestants had to write about signature dishes, cooking tips, and their "Culinary Point of View." If a person was there just because he or she loved to cook, they didn't stand a chance.

Since the mood was serious, many aspiring foodie stars kept their recipes under wraps. One woman who declined to give her name* said that she enjoyed teaching people how to cook but that she didn't want to discuss her preferred style of cuisine. Her moral support, a man who jokingly called himself her "rep," laughed, "There are a lot of ears around!"

*Bostonist is dropping all last names in the article, following typical reality-show practice. More after the jump! Photo of the contestants hunkered down over applications by Caroline Roberts.

He was right--those who were preparing were packed in close, either perched on Flat Iron stools or couches or standing along the walls. One little cooking trick or the next "kick it up a notch!" could easily be appropriated by anyone else. In reality shows where the competition focuses more on training and skills than on personality, it makes sense that not everyone would want to show their hand too soon.

A few chefs carefully opened up about their personalities and why they stood out. One woman, Elaine, was a former paramedic who described herself as "everybody's mom." Anthony, a sous chef from South Boston, confidently stated that he was "exciting to watch." And he was--the group of people standing in his corner of the room seemed a little more relaxed while Anthony cracked jokes with a fellow chef who was also auditioning.

When asked why he was auditioning for the show, Anthony said it was "a good way to showcase your skills." Gianfranco, an executive chef, said, "Everyone talks about the chef on the Food Network!" Jennifer, another executive chef, added that getting on television or opening a restaurant was important for chefs because "They want some notification of who they really are."