Terranova Fine Wines (333-1313) is back. And, in a word, better.


They now offer over 30 wines in self-service pours of 1, 3 and 5 ounces, with prices differing depending on the size and the provenance of the bottle (the 1-ouncers run $1 to $2.20; 5-ouncers go $5 to $14). You get a little card, pad it with what you want to spend, pop it in the slot at the red wine island or white wine wall panel, it deducts the bucks, pours your juice, and sippy sippy.


The wines include everything from white Bordeaux to Pessagno Pinot. Old World and New World in your goblet.


Meanwhile, it’s $5 for five tastes of Richard Oh’s Otter Cove Pinots, Syrahs, Chards – his premium Pinot is very good; the reserve flight’s $8 for seven tastes – at the bar, which gets waived with any purchase of a bottle ($16.50-$45). 


Manager Jeff Alexander works with owner Kelli Gillam to curate the selection. “Most are California wines,” he says. “The vast majority are boutique wines.” Think Boëte, Joyce and McIntyre.


The values look good. As Alexander says, “Our price is the same you’ll find on the winery’s website or a little bit less.”


The flat screen TVs and comfy chairs tip the thought that this is intended to be more hang-out than a house of stuffy sniffing. LALLApalooza (645-9036) delivers quesadillas, oysters, seared ahi and a variety of pizzas through a little partnership. A handful of bottle beers like England’s Samuel Smith and all three Chimay labels also satiate. The joint’s open daily noon to 8pm (or until foot traffic stops) and Sunday until 6pm. 


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If you had to choose one word to describe Restaurant 1833, the destination restaurant that will eventually occupy the Stokes Adobe and a Mount Rushmore-sized spot in the local eating landscape, ambitious just might be it.


So it stands to reason that they recruit a world beater to manage the big fat multifaceted dream, and to fill the shoes of departed CLM star Gary Obligacion.


That they did.


Tobias Peach already had a resume laden with foodie-seducing fruit when he stepped into his biggest gig yet a summer ago. He had opened Vegas’ Craftsteak with Top Chef Tom Colicchio, turned heads as GM of Flor de Lys celeb chef Hubert Keller, and managed at S.F.’s revered Postrio before he took that gig, but the stakes were higher here: He was not just opening Sage at the brand new, five-diamond Aria Casino & Resort, he was hiring the staff, ordering all the supplies and stocking and managing the beverage program.


The result? A Best New Restaurant nomination from the James Beard Foundation – the epicurean equivalent of an Oscar nomination.


Dude is money, Vegas nightlife reporter Xania Woodman tells the Weekly.


“His food prowess is well known,” she says. “At Flor his absinthe cart ran over other programs. It was spectacular… He’s the kind of GM that builds personal relationships with purveyors. He offered things you’re not able to find elsewhere.”


Hanging out at a packed Cannery Row Brewing Company, his down-to-earth demeanor demonstrates that those relationships come naturally. The best news here has to be that it was Prunetucky that helped the Peninsula net one of Vegas’ hottest young playmakers – he has family there who he wants to be close to while he still can, and we are the lucky bastards that benefit.


He’ll be joined at 1833 by visionary Chef Jon Mathieson of Washington D.C., another big-city steal. His Inox restaurant in the ’burbs earned him lofty praise – one columnist described his scene thusly: “In my line of vision I have perfect food, a gorgeous kitchen, a chef who clearly loves his job.”


CLM’s discovery involved serendipity. He was the chef at the restaurant adjoining the offices of Red Zone Entertainment, which owns CLM partner Dick Clark Productions.


“We’ve never had a bad course there,” CLM co-chief Rob Weakley says. “He knocked it out of the park. We couldn’t be more stoked.” Hit the blog for more on the planned menu.


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Sexy, jazzy, funky Cibo (649-8151) is 20 years old. If you haven’t had a great time dancing there at least once, you don’t often have a great time dancing. They’re celebrating with a 20 percent break on dinner with mention of the Weekly… After a soft opening a couple of weeks back, Luxe Lounge is making its official opening in the former Doc’s Dance Lounge with the funk, acid jazz and classic R&B of Joint Chiefs 7pm Friday, Dec. 10… Karma Cafe is kaput on Alvarado, as is Sweet Treats froyo next to Maya Cinemas in Salinas (sigh)… Champagne tasting at Zeph’s (757-3947) Dec. 16… I’m guessing marketing maven Marci Bracco, who loves her three French bulldogs more than Dr. Dre loves bad-ass beats, had something to do with the new Kula Ranch Island Steakhouse (883-9479) promotion: 11:30am to closing, the patio offers a covered deck and fire pit for two-leggeds and four-leggeds. There’s a dog menu for spoiled pups and complimentary milk bones for all… Chowed one of the best deals in town the other day. A juicy burger (they know blue cheese and medium rare), fries and a drink are $10 during the 4-6pm happy hour at Monterey Cookhouse (642-9900). Hot dog and a beer is $5.95… “Sacred cows,” Samuel Clemens once said, “make the best hamburger.”