Quick Bites: Bistro Abrego update, local on Cutthroat Kitchen, pop-up craft foods.

New chef Joey Rogers of incognito Bistro Abrego (372-7551), inside Hotel Abrego in downtown Monterey, has a revamped menu rolling out.

The goodies include fried green tomatoes ($11), bacon-leek tarts ($13), cherry-chipotle baby back ribs ($15) and his signature family recipe Joey's spaghetti and meatballs ($13).

Strong breakfast lineup and everything's $2 off for the daily 5-6:30pm happy hour too, from wines to local beers to specialty drinks like the Abrego Boss.

More fast-moving news nibbles follow:

• Johnny DeVivo's much-awaited appearance on Cutthroat Kitchen happens 10pm Sunday, Dec. 6, with a viewing party at his Poppy Hills-adjacent Porter's in the Forest (622-8237).

• Carmel Plaza (624-1385) hosts open house with face-painting, cookie-decorating, live music, balloon animals, Santa and refreshments benefits the Food Bank for Monterey County 5-7pm Friday, Dec. 4.

• For “The Drunken Monkey” at Pacific Grove Museum Natural History UC Berkeley professor of integrative biology and Smithsonian researcher Robert Dudley connects fruit-eating primates to the medical and social aspects of alcoholism today 3-4:30pm Saturday, Dec. 5 ($5/general, 648-5716).

• Nonprofit California Artisan Foods (461-5272) does a one-month pop up featuring craft foods by Northern California small-scale and cottage food makers Big Paw Olive Oils, Sinful Salts, Pacific Cookie Company, Zena’s Sass sauces, Fabulous Fixin’s soups and dips, Twins Kitchen Artisan Jams, San Benito Tea Co., Las Lomas Lavender & Honey, Mutari Gourmet Hot Chocolate and Copper Pan Jams (of Aromas!) at the center of the American Tin Cannery near the restrooms 10am-5pm daily through Christmas.

• @MontereyMCA approaching 6,000 tweets, many centered on local food discoveries.

• A new salad bar supplants the seafood case at The Wharf Marketplace (649-1116, $7.99 to load up a clamshell), and the marble wine tasting bar has been expanded for beer and wine sampling events, and the casual glass along the Rec Trail or after a beach walk.

• Carmel Belle (624-1600) has some hot things cooking: 5:30-8pm Tuesday, Dec. 8, Chef Eden Hutchinson hosts eight local artisans for a special holiday bazaar at his weekly pop up, Tiny Home Empanadas. Before the tree lighting Dec. 7 there's 3pm hot cocoa, spiced wine and sweet treats

• The Captain’s Inn in Moss Landing has just added a new foodie fun thing: Every Tuesday and Saturday the character-rich bed and breakfast throws open its dining room to the public to try Italian-born chef AlessioCasagrande does themed meals (633-5550, www.captainsinn.com, $79 includes wine). 

• Great news at Monterey Bay Aquarium: Not only is admission free for Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito County residents with ID from Dec. 5-12, Passionfish principals Ted and Cindy Walter will be honored tomorrow (Dec. 2) for their pioneering sustainability leadership.

• The new Amy’s Organic Drive-Thru restaurant, located in Rohnert Park, California, features an entirely vegetarian menu.

• Annual Sparkle Party 5:30-8pm in Caraccioli Cellars tasting room ($10) Friday, Dec. 4, after the tree lighting ceremony in downtown Carmel: tasty bites by Alvarado Street Brewery, raffles, and a flight featuring two sparkling wines and two ASB beers.