Macao: The Venetian® Macao’s authentic Indian restaurant, the Golden Peacock, has been awarded a highly coveted star-rating by the illustrious Michelin Guide to Restaurants and Hotels in its Hong Kong & Macau 2014 edition. The popular restaurant is one of only nine Indian restaurants worldwide currently starred by Michelin, and is the only one in Asia.

“Superb dining is one of the many outstanding and memorable experiences awaiting visitors of The Venetian Macao,” said Charles Newland, Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage of The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, Sands® Macao and Sands® Cotai Central. “The awarding of a Michelin star for the Golden Peacock is a prime example of how phenomenal the integrated resort experience truly is for our visitors, including, of course, our spectacular diversity of quality dining choices. We aim to deliver the finest experiences for our visitors, and this recognition by Michelin is a welcome confirmation of that success.”

Known by many as simply “the red guide” because of its iconic cover, the Michelin Guide is the benchmark in gourmet dining, and features in-depth descriptions for each restaurant and hotel, as well as its world-renowned star-rating system for culinary excellence, awarded annually based on the dining experiences of anonymous, professional Michelin inspectors.

The Golden Peacock joins the company of several restaurants at Sands China’s integrated resorts that have received recognition, including Portofino and Morton’s The Steakhouse, each of which earned a Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine for their excellent wine programmes.

The Golden Peacock is the latest restaurant to be featured at the iconic and ever-popular Venetian Macao, and brings the best in authentic Indian cuisine to visitors of Sands China’s Cotai Strip Resorts Macao.

Walking into the soothingly lit space, the modern design is inviting, with an elegant mix of wood, metal, masonry and tile, complemented by unmistakable embellishments of classic Indian design motifs. Featuring bronze and browns, plus subtle touches of colour in reds, yellows and blues, the decor is attractive yet unassuming, providing a relaxed and stylish atmosphere in which to enjoy a respite after a round of shopping or sightseeing.

From northern and southern to Jain, the choice of cuisine is comprehensive, prepared by a team of 17 chefs that includes 13 from all throughout India. At the helm is Chef Justin Paul, a native of Kerala. His fine skills in the kitchen were successfully put to the test in 2009, when he catered to 5,000 Indian guests attending the IIFA Awards, hosted by The Venetian Macao. He again helped provide authentic Indian fare in 2011 when The Venetian Macao hosted the STAR Parivaar Awards. Indian awards shows and tourists aside, The Venetian Macao has become an attractive destination for Indian film and television producers, with scenes shot on-location for many productions, including 2012’s STAR Plus telefilm series, Teri Meri Love Stories.

The authenticity of the Golden Peacock derives not only from the chefs, recipes and preparation techniques, but from the ingredients themselves. Spices, bright red pomegranates and even clay serving pots are imported direct from India, and nearly everything is prepared from scratch in-house – from yogurt, paneer and ice cream to masalas, sauces, pickles and chutneys. All food is prepared according to halal standards.

A glass-enclosed area gives diners a view of chefs working at twin 250-degree-Celsius tandoor ovens made from Indian clay, dishing out succulent spears of roast chicken and lamb from one and delicious naan from the other. A bar area provides an informal venue for chit-chatting, and doubles as an additional serving area during buffet hours. Two overhead television sets provide entertainment from Zee TV and All Sports Network (ASN), while the restaurant’s upstairs mezzanine offers a more private dining experience.

The Golden Peacock’s a la carte selections are presented with a gourmet flourish, and the buffet line is comprehensive, with a generous selection of appetizers, main courses and desserts. Considering the attentive service from the knowledgeable wait staff, the gourmet presentation and elegant decor, one would expect prices to be on the high end of Macao dining. Yet the Golden Peacock provides an affordable family outing, with buffets starting at MOP 158*, and a la carte prices for main courses starting at MOP 65 for vegetarian dishes, MOP 80 for meat dishes, and MOP 128 for seafood.