DESAL Torrevieja: new Gastronomic Festival Brings Michelin Stars and Local flavour to the Coast
Torrevieja, Spain – Torrevieja will host DESAL, a new three-day gastronomic festival that promises to turn the city into a major culinary stage where creativity, local products and top regional chefs will take center stage. The event runs Friday-Sunday, October 17-19, at the former Salones Bahía (Finca Victoria Garden Torrevieja).
What is DESAL Torrevieja?
DESAL is presented as a hybrid party and professional meeting: a public festival of tastings, showcookings, workshops and masterclasses, and a networking opportunity for the local hospitality sector. Organizers say the festival aims to promote regional competitiveness through quality, while remaining a festive, approachable event for all food lovers.
Key details
- when: October 17-19
- Where: Old Salones Bahía – Finca Victoria Garden,Torrevieja
- Main focus: Live cooking demonstrations by Michelin- and Repsol-awarded chefs,local product promotion,tastings and workshops
- Organizers & supporters: Torrevieja City Council (Hostelry & Tourism),the Association of Hospitality Businesses of Torrevieja and Comarca,the CdT Torrevieja (Centro de Turismo),and other collaborators
Headline chefs and programme highlights
The festival features several of the Valencian Community’s best-known chefs,many of them decorated with Michelin stars and Soles Repsol. Below is a day-by-day summary of who will appear and what they plan to present.
| Date | Chef (Restaurant) | Theme / Dish |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Oct 17 | Carlos García Moreno (Dexcaro, Dénia – 1 Sol Repsol) | “Nuestro arroz de aquí y de allá” – rice that fuses Marina Alta with Peru/Japan/Thailand |
| Friday, oct 17 | Rafael Soler (Audrey’s, Calpe – 1 Michelin star, 1 Sol Repsol) | “La huerta de Rafa Soler” – a tribute to local produce |
| Friday, Oct 17 | Adrian Stojewski (Spanish gastronomy ambassador in Poland) | A fusion of Spanish tradition and Polish culinary culture |
| Saturday, oct 18 | Quico Corrochano (Mr. Cover Lab, Torrevieja) | “Panettone with Torrevieja salt and grapes from La Mata” – local sweet creation |
| Saturday, Oct 18 | Kiko Moya (L’Escaleta, cocentaina – 2 Michelin stars, 3 Soles Repsol) | “Salt as a transforming element” – two signature creations |
| Saturday, Oct 18 | Alberto Ferruz (BonAmb, Jávea – 2 Michelin stars, 3 Soles Repsol) & Emmanuelle Barón (Casa Pepa, Ondara – 1 Michelin star) | A four-hand talk: “Memory as a starting point” |
| Saturday, Oct 18 | José Manuel Marcos Candela (Crujiente Petits Plaisirs / Candela Gelatería) | Presentation of his award-winning “Chocolate Panettone” |
| Sunday, Oct 19 | Joaquín Baeza rufete (Baeza & Rufete, Alicante – 1 Michelin star, 1 Sol Repsol) | “Essences of the Mediterranean” |
| Sunday, Oct 19 | Vicky sevilla (Arrels, Sagunto – 1 Michelin star, 1 Sol repsol) | Market-driven, simple Mediterranean cuisine by Spain’s youngest Michelin-starred chef |
Local hospitality and restaurants involved
DESAL is intended to be both a showcase for top chefs and an event that brings together Torrevieja’s hospitality sector. Participating local restaurants include:
- Las Columnas
- Luz de Mar
- La Mar de bien
- HB
- La Galería de la Mirada
- Las Cañas
- Bianco
- Misto
- Mr. Cover Lab
Collaborators and supporters
The festival will be possible thanks to collaborators that promote local produce and tourism,including:
- Salinas de Torrevieja
- Convega
- Asociación Alcachofa Vega Baja del Segura (artichoke association)
- Turespaña (joint actions with offices in Oslo and Warsaw)
- L’exquisit Mediterrani
- Turisme Comunitat Valenciana
Organizers’ message
Rosario Martínez Chazarra,Torrevieja’s Councilor for Hostelry and Tourism,said: “DESAL is not just a culinary showcase; it is a space to experience innovation up close without leaving tradition behind,with award-winning chefs who have chosen Torrevieja as a gastronomic stage. An unmissable event for lovers of cuisine, industry professionals and anyone who wants to enjoy tastings, workshops, showcookings and much more.”
Why DESAL matters
The festival highlights several trends in Spanish gastronomy:
- Collaboration between top-tier chefs and local restaurateurs to raise quality and visibility.
- Promotion of local ingredients – from sea salt to Vega Baja produce - in high-profile formats.
- use of live culinary experiences (showcookings, masterclasses) to engage both professionals and the public.
Who should attend
DESAL is aimed at:
- Food lovers and culinary tourists looking for high-quality, local-led experiences
- Chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals seeking inspiration and networking
- Locals who want to celebrate Torrevieja’s products and culinary potential
Practical data
The festival takes place inside the former Salones Bahía at Finca Victoria Garden in Torrevieja. For ticketing, exact schedules and updates, attendees should check official channels from Torrevieja city council and event organizers.
Article by local press - event presented by Rosario Martínez Chazarra (Torrevieja Councilor for Hostelry & Tourism), José Ignacio Pastor (President, Association of Hospitality Businesses of Torrevieja and Comarca) and Alicia Arenas (Director, CdT Torrevieja).
Sources and credits
- Alicante Plaza – “Seis chefs reconocidos participarán en el primer festival gastronómico DESAL en Torrevieja” – https://alicanteplaza.es/alicanteplaza/gastroplaza/seis-chefs-reconocidos-participaran-en-el-primer-festival-gastronomico-desal-en-torrevieja