A roadside taste test has revealed the identity of the official festival sausage celebrating one of the Westcountry's culinary showpieces.

And the banger which most tantalised the public's taste buds was a simple pork and caramelised onion.

Leading chef Michael Caines, whose Gidleigh Park restaurant on Dartmoor was last week named best in Britain for the second year running, is helping to launch the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink.

The Exeter-born restaurateur and festival co-founder, said the free-range sausage, "sums up the best of South West food – locally sourced, lovingly made and packed with flavour".

He added: "We want people to come to the festival to try for themselves our amazing regional food and drink and watch the talented line-up of fantastic chefs demonstrate tips and tricks on how best to cook it." Dubbed Exeter's "ultimate foodie weekend", the event kicks off on April 13 against the impressive backdrop of the city's castle and Northernhay gardens.

It will include cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs and fine dining at the Gourmet on the Go pop-up restaurants.

Children can enjoy a Little Cookies area while green-fingered growers can get advice on gardening and BBQ cooking tips in the mini-show garden. Friday and Saturday night will see live music from local bands and stalls packed with fresh produce.

The official 2012 sausage was unveiled yesterday after it won a blind taste test of more than 150 people in Exeter.

Shaun Vining, of producers Complete Meats in Axminster, said: "We are dedicated to supporting our region's farmers and passionate about the quality of the meat we sell."