We’re five episodes in to the sixth season of Top Chef, with episode six airing tonight on Bravo at 10 p.m. As we’ve written before, the cast is relatively packed with local talent. There’s Michael Isabella, executive chef of downtown crowd pleaser Zaytinya; Bryan Voltaggio, who opened VOLT up north in his hometown of Frederick, Md. after spending several years on the Hill at Charlie Palmer Steak; and his younger brother, Michael Voltaggio, who shares his culinary passion and Maryland roots, has a D.C. boss in José Andrés, even if he’s based in Los Angeles. All three have firm footing in Top Chef’s Las Vegas kitchen.

Though a cheftestant is never safe, with possible elimination looming each week, it’s safe to say that the three have emerged at the top of the pack, regularly winning challenges and praise for their dishes, avoiding knive-packing orders at the judge’s table, and providing storylines to a season that’s been hyped as being deep with talent and focused more on food than drama and characters.