Quick Bites: Carmel beats Vegas, Seattle and Portland on list of top foodie towns in the United States.

Carmel may only be a square mile in size, but it stuffs more than 45 restaurants (and counting) into that space.

That's one major reason it not only made Conde Nast's Best American Cities for Foodies, but climbed to number seven.

Take that Portland, Austin, Healdsburg, Santa Fe, Boston, Seattle and Las Vegas, who all finished beneath the mighty Foodieland-by-the-Sea.

And beware San Francisco, New Orleans and NYC, who are among the cities that landed ahead on the list: Carmel is coming for you.

La Bicyclette (622-9899), Mundaka (624-7400) and the most intense, delicious and unmarked sushi spot in the county, Akaoni (620-1516), received mention in the accompanying blurb.

Speaking of Mundaka, tonight they soiree starting at 5pm with a whirlwind of bargain tapas and several DJs to celebrate both abandoning the name High Tide for its sister bar—in favor of new name Barmel—and five years in biz for Mundaka proper.

More quick bites follow:

➔ A big weekend awaits: Indy Marketplace is back, MCVG’s Winemakers Celebration moves to Carmel, MEarth Day gets super green and fun. Check back on the blog later in the week for more.

➔ Googie Grill is taking shape at the former Phat Burger spot on Del Monte Boulevard in Seaside.

➔ Derby Day (free admission) and its big hats hits Wickets Bistro at Bernardus (658-3550) Saturday, May 3, with mint juleps, live music, a Derby attire contest and Ryan Zen Lama sightings. 

➔ Morgan Wine Dinner at Jacks (649-2698) May 14: six courses like seared halibut cheeks and roasted rack of lamb, small-plot wines and value at $65.

➔ The Acme espresso-coconut porter by Kevin Clark and Peter B’s is incredible. 

➔ 5:30-8:30pm Thursday, May 8, is one of the better tasting event values of the season, Flavors of Marina ($35 in advance), at Carpenter’s Union Hall.

➔ Santa Lucia Highlands annual gala ($85) is May 17 at Mer Soleil. 30-plus of the very best wineries in the state.

➔ Friday, May 2, is “Taxi Cab Appreciation Day” at Montrio Bistro (648-8880): free dinner to go for cabbies 4-10pm.

➔ Carmel Valley Garden Association’s free 45th annual Garden Show happens 10am-4pm, May 3-4, 2014 at Hidden Valley Music Seminars (659-0436).

➔ A cool $10 from every corkage popped Wednesdays in May at Knuckles and Fireside Lounge (372-1234) goes to Hope Center for Monterey.

➔ Beers are half off Mondays at Bahama Grille (676-3568) in Salinas.

➔ Lugano Swiss Bistro brings in guest Executive Chef Doug Ahlstrand Friday, May 2, and does a Sean Ryan CD Release Party Saturday, May 3.

➔ David Baron and Klaus Georis join forces with Shawn Naputi of Prubechú in S.F. for an inspired “Can I Live” dinner ($75++, $40 for cocktail pairings) Monday, May 5. 625-2727.

➔ To end on a particularly uplifting note: Earlier this month Vermont passed H.112, this country’s first no-strings-attached law requiring the mandatory labeling of GMOs (genetically modified organisms).