Benidorm is doing all it can to promote itself to food lovers as a centre of gastronomic excellence. Over the years they have successfully launched an annual Gastronomy Calendar, which features a number of events to publicise the town’s outstanding quality and selection of cuisine available. It is a great opportunity to inspire your taste buds and try some elaborate and skillfully prepared food that is artfully presented.

Sadly, many holidaymakers that come to Benidorm never experience what is on offer as there are so many predominantly British bars and cafes advertising food and drink at unimaginably rock bottom prices.

There are five separate events this year, the first of which is “Jornadas de la Cuchara” – Hot dishes of the region, which runs from Saturday 20 February until Sunday 28.

This is the fifth year that this particular one will be taking place and in total 12 restaurants are taking part, including for the first time, the Belvedere restaurant on the 21st floor of the Hotel Madeira Centro and El Trinquet – next to El Cisne rastro. The roof terrace of the Belvadere was famously featured last year in a scene with Joan Collins from an episode of the ITV Benidorm comedy series.

Each restaurant will be offering a set 3-course meal including wine for €20 – the menus are available in a specially produced brochure, which is free and available at the Tourist Information Office.

Within the brochure there is also a map to show the location of each participating restaurant, with address and contact details.Have a browse and if a menu catches your eye go and give it a go - try something new this year! The next event in the gastronomy calendar will be "Feria de Abril" which takes place 12-17 April.