Quick Bites: Great food truck news, dry cider, Drew Barrymore.

After years pacing the streets for some decent food-truck grub, local trendy eaters are getting their hallelujah on thanks to two courses of good mobile food news:

1) Marina Community Partners, the developer of The Dunes complex with REI and Target, will allow food trucks next to the shiny new Century Marina movie theater. The courtyard where they'll park is still under construction, scheduled to be completed in about two months, which means that by this summer, Marina moviegoers will be able to dine on fried artichokes and carne asada fries, finally.

2) The city of Monterey has allowed short-term parking (meaning trucks must move every 60 minutes) for mobile food outfits like El Volcan, which has been setting up shop next to Window on the Bay. That stands until at least April 19, when the City Council will discuss the Planning Commission's findings on longer-term parking locations.

More food news snacklets appear below:

• Chesebro Wines (659-2125) now has an organic dry apple cider made with Live Earth Farms fruit debuting Saturday, April 9, at its Carmel Valley tasting room. Delicious stuff, limited run, $15 a bottle.

• Some clarification on our Best of Monterey County blurb on Best Local White Wine: Bernardus' Monterey Chard enjoys an assemblage of grapes from winemaker Dean DeKorth's favorite local growers (Griva, Gary Franscioni, Steve McIntyre, Joe Alarid), but not any from the Marinus vineyard masterminded by Matt Shea.

• To celebrate its Best Of win, Happy Girl Kitchen (373-4475) is doing free coffee or tea with any purchase. 

• Cima Collina opens its Marina warehouse winery space for a "Staves and Steel" party starring seasonal sips, tastings, food truck grub, wood-oven pizza and live music Saturday, April 9 ($15-$25, 620-0645). A portion of proceeds benefits CASA youth advocacy in the courts.

• ICYMI: Commercial season for Dungeness crab is officially back on.

• New and improved PortaBella on Ocean in Carmel (624-4395) has a good thing going. More on the blog.

• Boardwalk Sub Shop (264-1171) now does online ordering and delivery to the Monterey Peninsula including Marina, CSUMB, Pebble Beach, Carmel and Mid Valley ($25 minimum plus $3 delivery charge). Gluten-free bread from Mariposa Bakery in San Francisco at both Wild Thyme Deli & Café and Boardwalk too.

• Legal Services for Seniors [$125 ($85 tax deductible) 899-0492] hosts a cioppino fundraiser 5pm Saturday, April 9, at San Carlos Hall in Monterey. Great cause, great food, great tradition.

• Todd Fisher, Cal Stamenov and Sarda Desmond lead a eight-chef lineup for Holman Ranch Wine & Food to benefit Carmel High’s Sober Grad Night 5:30-8:30pm Thursday, April 7, at Holman ($45/person; $75/couple; CarmelHighSoberGrad@gmail.com).

• It’s just about here. The ninth (?!) annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine starts March 31, and Drew Barrymore will be among the luminaries dropping by (to introduce the Rosé she does with Carmel Road. More PBFW info on the blog).

• Casanova Restaurant taps into its wine collection of over 2,000 selections from all corners of the world for a "Hello Wine!" installment of a tasting series hosted by certified wine educator and advanced level sommelier Jeff Birkemeier. It's basically a primer on how to evaluate wine like a pro, 6pm Wednesday, April 13 ($25, www.casanovacarmel.com).

• Recipe submissions for Great Garlic Cook-Off in Gilroy are due May 1. More at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.

• Tabs on smart drinks like the house negronis in Lalla Oceanside Grill's downstairs Angel's Share speakeasy-style spot (324-0891) are $5 off if you eat upstairs first.

• Sister restaurant Lalla Grill (324-4632) does a neat thing by rotating local artists along its walls. Up next, my local favorite, Andrew Jackson, debuting with a reception 4-6pm Wednesday, April 6. 

• National Beer Day is Thursday, April 7. Whaling Station (373-3778) celebrates with 2-for-1 brews. 

David Schmalz, Nic Coury and Nick Rahaim contributed to this report.