Quick Bites: Bakai's reboot, false alarm and updates on openings.

After a change in management and an ownership buyout and several months dark, Bakai Wine + Tapas is back with a new chef, menu and wine list at 420 Tyler St. in Monterey.

Terese Ortiz is in as operations manager with the primary goal of making it more accessible in terms of price and personality.

"I just love the people we've had coming," she says. "Good energy. Everyone is loving it's reopened, and others are happy to discover it." 

After time at spots like Mundaka, Bicyclette and Fresh Cream, veteran local chef Jacob Tauriac schemes the tapas for the chic space.

The goodies include bravas, scallops with leek butter, mussels and spiced shrimp ($8-$15).

The wine list ranges over several dozen choices from across Monterey County, Napa, Mendocino and Spain, starting at $6.50 a glass and $24 a bottle.

Live music curated by Kiki Wow continues most Saturdays 7:30-9pm; Sept. 16 brings in Shades of Light (Brazilian jazz) and Sept. 23 Kenny Stahl (jazz).

More food news nibbles appear here: 

• The seventh annual Oktoberfest Monterey Bay honors its spirit hawk Andre Lengacher with lederhosen, Bavarian music and beer Sept. 16-17 ($15-$20, oktoberfestmontereybay.com) at The Barnyard, benefitting cancer research. Longtime Lengacher pal and collaborator Marc Paulhus wrote this note of appreciation over the weekend: "Andre was larger than life. He had a big heart and loved to have fun. Life with Andre was an adventure and I was lucky to have had 28 beautiful years with him. This is why this Oktoberfest is to honor the wonderful man that he was and always will be. He would have turned 70 this month." 

• Wild Thyme Deli 2.0 is coming to the former Portobello’s in the Zeph’s One-Stop building on South Main Street in Salinas. Owner Terry Teplitzky, who is also bringing South Main his second Boardwalk Sub Shop (tentatively opening next month), is aiming for a November debut of WT2.

• Folktale Winery's latest Chef Duel pits Paul Corsentino (Ventana Inn & Spa) versus Aaron Burns (The Bench) 6pm Monday, Sept. 11, folktalewinery.com.

• Don't panic, Farmers Union Pour House (975-4890) fans. That ABC change of ownership sign in the window on Main Street is there because Lauren and Colin Hattersley incorporated. They remain the sole owners (and tireless operators).

• All Saints’ Episcopal reinvigorates Small Bites to Fight Big Hunger with food from Aabha Indian, Dametra and Roux, local wines and a robust silent auction Sept. 22 ($50, 624-3883).

• Sushi Moto at 413 Alvarado St. in downtown Monterey is no longer. Gregarious former owner Hank Kim tells me he didn't want to call it a day, but had no choice. He added that he also sold his share of Alvarado Ramen. Sushi Fly will eventually take the place of Sushi Moto.

• Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel films part of Places to Love Monday, Sept. 11, at Haute Enchilada Cafe & Gallery in Moss Landing. Twenty percent of lunch cost will benefit the Red Cross in honor of 9/11.

• Wicked Wine Run takes off at Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad 3:30pm Saturday, Sept. 16—5K run, 1K walk, post-race party with live music and plenty of food and wine—to benefit Ag Against Hunger (678-0300, smithfamilywines.com).

• Chef Klaus Georis leads an intriguing pair of pop-up lunches at 4 Pilot Road behind Corkscrew Cafe this week. Sunday, Sept. 10, it's three snacks and three courses starring guest chefs Noel Jelfs (Chinese Tuxedo, New York), Tubo Logier (In de wulf, Belgium) and The Caviar Company ($80, BYOB, 20 seats). Monday, Sept. 11, it's a full-on Southeast Asian barbecue ($30). More at canicaviar.brownpapertickets.com.

• Eaters and restaurant owners: I am revisiting my catalog of the area's best burgers, from Corkscrew Cafe to Ferdi's Creole Restaurant, including outstanding veggie burgers. Any and all recommendations are welcome via mark@mcweekly.com.

• Carmel Valley Chophouse, from the same team behind Roux in Carmel Valley, has nudged back its tentative open date to Oct. 1 due to some lingering red-tag issues from previous owners. (More on the restaurant vision: "Chophouse ready to fill Lokal void in Carmel Valley.")

• Another opening update: Little Sicily is inching closer to opening at 16 E. Gabilan in Oldtown Salinas, with Sicilian—and from-scratch—gnocchi, calamari, arancini, cannoli, coffee, ravioli, pizza and lasagna. Owner-operator Mike Pappalardo hoped to open mid-month, and Sept. 15 is still possible, end of the month at the latest.

• Northern Chapter California Environmental Health Association hosts a foodborne illness training Sept. 14-15 in Salinas. More at ceha.org.

• Grasing's pours a Maison Hardy cognac and scotch tasting from 5-6:30pm Friday, Sept. 8 (RSVP to chris@grasings.com or 624-6562).

• California Wine Month is here. One good deal to flag from the Downtown Dining family of restaurants: Rio Grill does half-price wines on Mondays, Tarpy's Roadhouse on Wednesdays and Montrio Bistro on Sundays.