Desal Torrevieja 2025: a three-day culinary festival brings Michelin-starred chefs and local flavors to the Vega Baja
Torrevieja is preparing “a feast for the senses” this autumn as the new gastronomic festival Desal arrives to transform the city into a culinary stage from October 17 to 19, 2025. Organized by the Torrevieja City council with support from regional partners and the Generalitat Valenciana, Desal aims to showcase creativity, local produce and high-level cuisine through free showcookings, tastings and workshops.
What is Desal? A festival that mixes tradition and innovation
According to the organisers, Desal will blend local hospitality with “the big names of regional cuisine”-chefs recognised with Michelin Stars and Repsol Suns-highlighting the raw ingredients from Torrevieja and the Vega Baja de Segura. The festival will take place at the historic Salones Bahía (Finca Victoria Garden Torrevieja) and is designed to be both a public gastronomic party and a professional forum to boost competitiveness and sector innovation.
Key goals
- promote local products from Torrevieja and the Vega Baja region.
- Bring together chefs with national and international recognition.
- Create spaces for training,networking and innovation in hospitality.
- Offer free activities for the public while prioritising professionals for limited-capacity sessions.
Top chefs and highlights: Michelin talent on stage
Organisers announced a lineup featuring several celebrated Valencian chefs. Sessions will include showcookings, pairings and creative presentations that position cuisine as an artistic and cultural experience.
- Kiko Moya (L’Escaleta, Cocentaina) – 2 Michelin Stars, 3 Soles Repsol
- Alberto Ferruz (BonAmb, Jávea) – 2 Michelin Stars, 3 Soles Repsol
- Rafael Soler (Audrey’s, Calpe) – 1 Michelin Star, 1 Sol Repsol
- Joaquín Baeza Rufete (Baeza & Rufete, Alicante) – 1 Michelin Star, 1 sol Repsol
- Vicky Sevilla (Arrels, Sagunto) – 1 Michelin Star, 1 Sol Repsol
- Carlos García Moreno (Dexcaro, Dénia) – 1 Sol Repsol
- And other notable professionals and local chefs and pastry specialists
Programme at a glance (October 17-19, 2025)
All festival activities are free to attend. Chef demonstrations are limited to 30 people and are aimed primarily at hospitality business owners and professionals.
| Date | Featured chefs / sessions | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 17 Oct | carlos García Moreno; Rafael Soler; Adrian Stojewski | “Our rice from here and there” • “The garden of Rafa soler” • Spain-Poland fusion |
| Sat 18 Oct | Quico Corrochano; Kiko Moya; Alberto Ferruz & Emmanuelle Barón; José Manuel Marcos Candela | Panettone with Torrevieja salt • Salt as a transforming element • Memory as starting point • Pastry premiada |
| Sun 19 Oct | Joaquín Baeza Rufete; Vicky Sevilla | Essences of the Mediterranean • Market-driven simplicity |
Local restaurants and community involvement
Desal also aims to be a meeting point for Torrevieja hostelería.Local restaurants participating include:
- Las Columnas
- Luz de Mar
- La Mar de Bien
- HB
- La Galería de la Mirada
- Las Cañas
- Bianco
- Misto
- Mr. Cover Lab
Organisers expect the festival to boost the local hospitality sector and showcase how customary ingredients-such as the salt from the Salinas de Torrevieja and local vegetables-can be reimagined by top chefs.
Partners, funding and organisation
Desal was presented by Rosario Martínez Chazarra (Councillor for Hospitality and Tourism), José Ignacio Pastor (President of the Torrevieja and Comarca hospitality Business Association) and Alicia Arenas (Director of the CDT Torrevieja). The festival counts on collaboration from:
- Salinas de Torrevieja
- Convega
- Asociación Alcachofa Vega Baja del segura
- turespaña (Oslo & Warsaw actions)
- L’Exquisit Mediterrani
- Turisme Comunitat Valenciana
Financial support comes from the Generalitat Valenciana via a direct grant of €70,000 to Torrevieja City Council. Organisers clarified that this format builds on previous events such as Gastrovegabaja but with a different structure: the grant for Desal is managed directly by the municipality.
Quote from organisers
Rosario Martínez described Desal as “not only a culinary showcase, but a space to experience innovation without leaving tradition behind, led by award-winning chefs who have chosen Torrevieja as a gastronomic stage. An essential meeting for food lovers, industry professionals and anyone who wants to enjoy tastings, workshops, demonstrations and much more.”
Practical information
- When: October 17-19, 2025
- Where: Salones Bahía (Finca Victoria Garden Torrevieja)
- Tickets: Activities are free; chef demonstrations limited to 30 people and focused on hospitality professionals
- Organisers recommend early registration for limited-capacity sessions through the Torrevieja tourism channels
Why Desal matters
Desal brings national culinary prestige to torrevieja and the Vega Baja, highlighting local products and offering training and networking for the sector.For residents and visitors it’s a chance to experience high-level cuisine close to home, while for restaurateurs it’s an possibility to connect with leading chefs and new gastronomic trends.
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Credits & source: This article is based on the presentation and coverage by Información. For full details please see the original report:
Información – Torrevieja convoca a los mejores chefs valencianos en Desal (23 Sept 2025)