Quick Bites: New poké spot in Marina, EcoFarm, big dinner and more.

Poke Bar management and Marina Dunes developer Scott Negri are trying to keep it quiet for reasons that aren't all that apparent, but the popular chain is coming to the shopping complex some time this spring.

Poke Bar spokesperson Erica Kim had this in response to inquiries: "We're excited to be coming to that area. Right now the opening date is not completely clear."

They'll join the explosion of fast-casual restaurants next to the Century Marina Theater and big box stores like REI and Target. 

They'll also join the explosion of Monterey Peninsula poke-centric spots like Poke Lab, Poke House and Poke Time.

It'll take one of the remaining spaces on the south side of the sequence of eateries, in either the building that houses Smash Burger or the one with Blaze Pizza.

Poke Bar launched in 1990 when Yanagi Sushi spun off the original in Northridge, Calif., near L.A.

Their tweak on the Hawaiian tradition includes quinoa, tuna, salmon, albacore, shrimp, octopus, scallop and tofu with mixtures including seaweed, onions, kale and more.

More food news nibbles assemble below:

• A private ribbon cutting at Pacific's Edge happens Thursday, Jan. 11, to introduce the reinvented restaurant. The most wow-worthy items: the sparkling new dining deck (with dramatic views and beveled glass) and new Sunset Lounge bar (which rotated 180 degrees to look over the Pacific). Then there's the Big Sur Foragers Fest special event Bonny Doon Vineyard wine dinner Friday, Jan. 12 (think caramelized porcini mushroom risotto with winter truffle and Matsutake mushroom steaks).

• Speaking of, Big Sur Forager’s Fest is here Jan. 13-15 (peek the Weekly A&E Calendar for more). Meanwhile the 2017 Fungus Fair is Jan. 13-15 at Louden Nelson Community Center in Santa Cruz.

• The one and only EcoFarm visits Asilomar Conference Grounds for its 37th annual summit of conscious farming Jan. 25-28.

• Popular local food truck The Choke Coach, normally seen parked at Pezzini Farms in Castroville, is introducing its own restaurant at the Salinas Airport called. More via "Choke Coach to launch Flying Artichoke restaurant at Salinas Airport."

• The eighth annual Culinary Round-Up, featuring scores of all-star chefs and local wineries, to benefit Rancho Cielo’s inspired intervention programs, happens Sunday, Jan. 22, at Monterey Plaza Hotel ($99-$169, 444-3533 or www.ranchocielo.org).

• The folks at 201 Main are doing a little first of the year housekeeping. Giorgio's reopens Friday, Jan. 13. Ticino is back Feb. 1 with what it's touting as an "exciting new menu."

• The new Monterey battlefront as far as nightlife: Cannery Row. The Giant Artichoke has closed, partly because of drama, and Blue Fin Cafe and Billiards may be next. Look to "Cannery Row's Giant Artichoke closes amid security concerns" for more—and this week's print edition for further updates.

• Patria in Oldtown Salinas (424-5555) is back open post-holiday with normal social hour times and dinner hours (5pm-close Tuesday-Sunday) but no more lunch.

• Junior League of Monterey's 15th annual Crab Feed cracks Saturday, Feb. 4, at San Carlos Hall ($60 through Jan. 20, jlmontereycounty.org/estore).

• Frank’s Fish Market will close to pave way for new Salinas train station.

• BottleRock Napa Valley (May 26-28) has announced its lineup, which includes Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, Macklemore and Modest Mouse, www.bottlerocknapavalley.com.

• Revival Ice Cream now doing buttered popcorn and caramel ice cream at Osio Theater ($5).

• Pebble Beach Food & Wine is on the horizon: April 20-23.

• Grocery Outlet in Seaside carries $3.99 caviar.