Courtesy Photo "Top Chef: Las Vegas" chef'testants, from left, Jennifer Carroll, Bryan Voltaggio of Frederick, Eli Kirshtein and Michael Voltaggio, formerly of Frederick and now in Los Angeles, in a scene from Wednesday night's episode.

The slate of chefs was down to six at the beginning of Wednesday night's show. Johnny Avello, Wynn Las Vegas director of race and sports operations, still favored pork-meister Kevin Gillespie, with 8-to-5 odds -- Avello's favorite from the season opener. Avello placed Michael Voltaggio in second with 5-to-2 odds and brother Bryan Voltaggio in third at 9-to-2. Rounding out the oddsmaker's list was Jennifer Carroll at 6-to-1, Eli Kirshtein at 20-to-1 and the long shot, Robin "Is she still here?" Leventhal, at 60-to-1.

The challenges

For the quickfire challenge, show host Lakshmi and guest judge Lawson, a British food journalist, author and host of the Food Network's "Nigella Feasts" and "Nigella Express," were tucked snuggly in the beds of their hotel suite. Lakshmi phoned in the night's quickfire challenge to the chef'testants who were to prepare the perfect breakfast in bed and then serve the ladies in waiting in their suite. "You have 30 minutes and anything you can find in the kitchen," Lakshmi told the chefs.

Bryan's dish of a four-minute egg served over polenta with a splash of vanilla was Lawson's least favorite of the challenge. Michael's Cuban-inspired rice and banana dish was neither among the worst nor the best.

The challenge went to Eli's Reuben Benedict, of which Lawson said the dish's sauerkraut tang "slapped the jet lag out of me." For his win, Eli will have his recipe included in the "Top Chef" cookbook of quickfire challenge recipes.

For the elimination challenge, the chefs drew knives inscribed with the names of six of Sin City's famous hotels/casinos. Each then visited his or her casino on the strip for inspiration to create a dish for the judges.

Bryan, chef/co-owner of Volt restaurant in Frederick , drew Mandalay Bay. The inspiration for his dish came from the hotel's golden exterior and its shark exhibit, which focuses on "the whole idea of sustainability and fishing."

His brother Michael drew New York New York. Michael, chef de cuisine at The Dining Room at The Langham, Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif., was inspired by the hotel's working fireboat and the American flag to create a dish that paid tribute to the city's firefighters.

Chef'testants had to prepare their dish for a party of 175 guests and the judges. During the party, judges said Bryan's halibut dish had a "fantastic balance to it" and "tasted professional." Judges commented positively on the crispiness of Michael's boneless spicy chicken wings and the contrast of serving it with a dollop of cold blue cheese.

After deliberation Kevin, Michael and Bryan were first to the judges' table with their dishes ranking best. Judges said Michael's take on chicken wings was "perfectly expressive of the kind of cooking he does," and named him challenge winner. Michael and Bryan have each won three of the elimination challenges. Michael has also won one quickfire.

For Robin, the luck ran out as she was told to pack her knives, leaving five chef'testants to compete next week.

Victoria Brody, director of communications for Bravo, confirmed that the finale has been filmed and will air Dec. 9. The final four will be whittled down to the final three on the Dec. 2 episode. New "Top Chef: Las Vegas" episodes air at 10 p.m. Wednesdays.