Las Vegas Weekly

November 4, 2009 · 10:52 AM

Guess who’s coming to Top Chef: Las Vegas dinner?

By Robin Leach

Marcel Vigneron may not have come home with the $100,000, but his foams, attitude and Wolverine-like hairdo certainly made an impression on Season 2 of Top Chef.

Photo: Beverly Poppe

Even though odds have been posted for the six remaining contestants on Bravo’s Top Chef: Las Vegas, they clear out of the kitchen tonight for a special episode of “All-Stars Dinner.” Season 5 fan favorite Fabio Viviani will host a get-together with a challenge of past cheftestants as they rehash their favorite moments from the series.

The all-star lineup, including winners and favorite competitors, will include Las Vegas’ own Marcel Vigneron and Season 3 winner Hung Huynh, plus Season 2 winner Ilan Hall, Casey Thompson, Stefan Richter and Carla Hall. Carla and Casey will confront each other in a kitchen duel for the first time since the controversial Season 5 finale won by Hosea Rosenberg. Additionally, Marcel will go head-to-head with Fabio.

Here are the latest odds as computed by Johnny Avello, director of the Wynn race and sports book operations. Remember the odds are for entertainment purposes only and not for gaming. Kevin Gillespie is still the favorite at 8-5; Michael Voltaggio is in second at 5-2; brother Bryan Voltaggio is 9-2; Jennifer Carroll is 6 -1; Eli Kirshtein is 20-1; and winding up the sixsome is Robin Leventhal, tipped as the next ousted candidate at 60-1.

Hung Huynh, Top Chef Season 3 winner, is now working at Solo in New York.

Next Wednesday, Top Chef: Las Vegas resumes and will challenge the six to create “Hotel Heaven.” Among the challenges will be to whip up the perfect breakfast in bed for guest judge Nigella Lawson, author of How to Eat.

The semifinals are set for Dec. 2 when the final four chefs travel to Napa Valley, Calif., for the pressure-filled challenges at the Rutherford Hill and Chimney Rock wineries. They will face Quickfire Cabernet Sauvignon and Quickfire Chardonnay challenges. Then the finals are Dec. 9, with the last three chefs in an all-out fight for victory. After a deceptively late night of partying, they are awakened pre-dawn for the tricky showdown, so they’d better be wide awake if they want to win!

Meantime, voting begins Nov. 11 on BravoTV.com for the fan favorite from Top Chef: Las Vegas Season 6 and continues until the Dec. 9 finale.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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— From Vegas Deluxe

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