Bombay-born Vineet Bhatia, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, was cooking up a storm in the kitchens at Alea yesterday ahead of the venue's opening party on Friday.
The talented cook, who won his Michelin star in 2001 and saw his London eatery Rasoi awarded the accolade in 2006, was also dishing out last-minute tips to the chefs at his eatery Bird.
The 1,700-capacity Clarence Dock casino will also house a second restaurant, The Fig Mediterranean Grill.
The 63,000 sq ft entertainment venue is spread over four floors, with 17 gaming tables, more than 40 gambling machines, two luxury gaming floors, six bars, a conference centre, boutique 50-seat cinema, private event space.
Andy Orr, venue director, said: "I'm confident Alea Casino
Leeds is going to be a huge
boost for the city, offering an entirely new entertainment experience."
It will be operated by London Clubs International, whose American parent company Harrah's owns world-famous Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
A Vegas-style party is planned for Friday, featuring Bollywood dancers, stilt walkers, and showgirls.
It was originally scheduled to open last December.