Quick Bites: Two major foodie events in one weekend, Cafe Lumiere's inspired brunch and State Bird in Big Sur.

A dozen food purveyors like Cantinetta Luca, Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar and Marinus—and twice as many wineries like Manzoni Cellars, McIntyre Vineyards and Morgan—help Carmel's foodie flag fly as part of the annual Taste of Carmel. 

That big "royal bash" tasting still happens Thursday ($95) at the Mission.

But now, new-this-year events keep the flag flapping all weekend, and include:

• The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ ($65), which provides a passport that gets its owner a “wine walk flight” at 9 of 12 tasting rooms on the list without an expiration date.

• The Carmel Food Tour™ ($65), granting explorers an all access pass to seven tasting stops.

• A McIntyre Vineyards Winemaker Dinner at Anton & Michel ($99) with a dutifully robust multi-course meal to match the organic estate wines.

 • An Aubergine Dessert and Wine Tasting Lunch at Aubergine in L'Auberge Carmel and for $114.58 pair your wine with the absolutely essential dessert that comes in 3 courses.

Across town, the fourth annual Salinas Valley Food & Wine looks to be the strongest effort yet, in large part due to the debut of 201 Main's Giorgio's Italian restaurant. 

Get more on the massive space in the former Wells Fargo building, the new restaurant and chef, and how it feeds into SVFW with last week's Edible Complex column. 

More munchable food nibbles appear here:

➔ The underrated-and-overachieving kitchen at Cafe Lumiere (920-2451) has added a sumptuous brunch 8am-1pm daily with 11 rotating options like a choice club Benny ($10 includes a side) with avo, bacon, turkey and tomato. Great food, great value ($6-$10), amen.

➔ Stuart Brioza + Nicole Krasinski of James Beard Best New Restaurant State Bird Provisions in S.F. are coming to Big Sur Foragers Fest Jan. 17.

➔ Terranova Fine Wine next to the Monterey Marriott is closed and empty.

➔ Rogue chef Michael Jones does the grub for Cachagua’s Jamesburg School benefit with live music from Mahoney and the Dodads, Kiki Wow, Kings of the Valley, Wiley Band and John Macy and the Gospel Choir noon-4pm Oct. 5 ($25) at Carmel Valley Community Park.

➔ 12th annual Bernardus wine dinner ($125) happens Oct. 9 with five wowser courses paired with new releases.

➔ Galante Vineyards (624-3800) celebrates 20 years 1-4pm Oct. 11. Attendees taste 10 wines, including cellar reserves from 1994 ($45).

➔ Feed your musical belly: Henry Miller Library (www.henrymiller.org) hosts an almost-free ($10 suggested donation), jam-packed night of indie folk courtesy of The Range of Light Wilderness, Fletcher Tucker, Fountainsun and more 7pm Oct. 10. Get there.

➔ Chef Brandon Miller does demo tastings at Twisted Roots Tasting Room (594-8282)—think paella, appetizers and wines— 5:30-7pm Oct. 3 to benefit Ag Against Hunger ($35, includes two glasses of wine) onlineagagainsthunger.org.

➔ Lilify (207-1380) brings abstract textile artist Tracy Parker’s show to their shop with D.AM.N. Goods kale chips to sample Oct. 4, 12-4pm.

➔ Oct. 11 San Benito Olive Festival (888-503-3373) spotlights award-winning oils, cooking demos, premium wines, craft beers and tastes to Bolado Park in Tres Pinos ($20/general; $10/child).