Torquay’s finest restaurants, bars and cafés have been busy signing up to take part in TorqEat’s unique, mouth-watering Food Trail between Friday 25th April and Monday 5th May. Back by popular demand for the second year, this will showcase the very best of the town’s wonderful food establishments with a vast array of delicious, one off menus available for all to try.

To date, Michelin starred The Elephant, Lavani, Burridge's Cafe Tearooms and Offshore Bar and Restaurant have all confirmed their participation, as well as many more yet to be announced. Commenting on the Food Trail chief executive of Taste of the West, John Sheaves says: “TorqEat’s Food Trail is a fantastic way to incorporate the town’s local food and drink businesses and provides an excellent opportunity for them all to become involved in the festival.” John continues: “Last year’s Food Trail was a brilliant success and we look forward to welcoming many new establishments on board this year, it’s not too late to still become involved.”

The first, much anticipated Food Trail menus have just been released. Award-winning, Indian restaurant Lavani will be treating diners to appetizing, spicy dishes using only the best Devon sourced produce. Brixham Crab meat cakes, Kerala houseboat style Brixham sea robin with wasabi in banana leaf, Devonshire Lamb Shank Kashmir Rogan Josh and Brixham Scallop KiriHoti will entice visitors during the lead up to TorqEat. Whilst the quaint Burridge's Cafe Tearooms will be tempting all with their signature High Tea. A delicious selection of finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes, macaroons and traditional Devon cream teas, using locally produced clotted cream and strawberry jam.

TorqEat, Torquay’s free food festival, will take place over two days on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May (10am until 6pm) at the town’s vibrant Harbourside and Cary Gardens.

Heading up the fantastic line up of chefs, Simon Hulstone, chef proprietor at the highly regarded The Elephant, will be impressing all with his talent for using local, seasonal produce to create hugely memorable flavours. He will be joined by passionate supporter and advocate of TorqEat, Richard Hunt, the consultant and proprietor of the Devon Scone Company, and by MasterChef: The Professionals 2012 joint winner and head chef at The Treby Arms, Anton Piotrowski. Bruce Cole, who is the award-winning head chef from The Moorland Garden Hotel, and Jean Philippe Bidart or JP as he is known, the head chef at the multi-award winning Millbrook Inn at South Pool, will also be participating. All of whom will be displaying their expertise during a range of informative and fascinating demonstrations throughout the two days, along with many other outstanding guest chefs who are yet to be announced.

This year you will once again be able to try and buy from over 40 local food and drink producers, all showcasing a delicious mix of products from across the Bay and the region. Producers who have already confirmed their attendance at this year’s festival include Partridge Farm Meats, Lemon Jelli, Bays Brewery, Kenniford Farm, The Bloomberry Juice Company and new for 2014 St Ives Cider, The Big Pot Kitchen Company, Southwestern Distillery and lots more. There will also be a mixture of skilled arts and craft makers demonstrating their wares.

The free food festival which takes place in the very heart of Torquay is brought to you by businesses within the Torquay BID in collaboration with the highly respected Taste of the West. Sponsors of TorqEat confirmed to date are Caterfoods and Total Produce.

Torquay town centre is located in a Business Improvement District, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to regenerate areas and increase footfall within the town. Money invested by the town’s business rate payers provides the opportunity to improve the façade of Torquay with benefits including staging and promoting more events such as markets, food and arts festivals including TorqEat and seasonal events.

Established in 1991, Taste of the West helps small and medium sized food and drink businesses in the South West to flourish and has helped showcase the best of the South West’s food and drink at public events across the region.

For further information on TorqEat or to become a sponsor contact Evelyn Westwater at ew@tasteofthewest.co.uk or visit Taste of the West’s website: www.tasteofthewest.co.uk; follow @Tasteofthewest on Twitter or ‘like’ Taste of the West on Facebook or go to www.torquay.torbaytowns.co.uk