Laura Ness

Los Gatos

Writer and Columnist at Freelance

Freelance Writer and Contributor at Edible Monterey Bay

Freelance Writer at Wine Industry Advisor

Her VineNess, wine lover, wine writer, food hedonist and columnist

Articles

Reveling in The Bounty at Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025

1 week ago | ediblemontereybay.com | Laura Ness

April 18, 2025 – The weather gods smiled, and the clouds parted for a divine final day of this year’s Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival, held in two spacious tents near Pebble Beach Lodge. With all the booze everywhere, from guys with cocktail carts pushing bourbon, to a martini and truffle fries order window, the festival is getting higher octane every year. Perhaps it should actually be called Pebble Beach Food, Wine & Spirits.
Hop to Easter brunch at South Bay and Peninsula dining spots

1 week ago | mercurynews.com | Laura Ness

Got family in town for Easter? Head to The Fountain Restaurant at the Signia By Hilton Hotel in downtown San Jose, where Executive Chef Joe Derla’s annual Easter brunch features individual servings for soup and entrée, with unlimited salads, decadent seafood platters and an array of desserts brought to the table to share.
Restaurant group shows what's in a name at Santana Row

1 week ago | eastbaytimes.com | Laura Ness

Augustine looks markedly different from anything else on Santana Row by design. Even the font used for the logo is utterly distinctive and suggests a tony coastal look and feel. It all started with the name.
Restaurant group shows what’s in a name at Santana Row

1 week ago | mercurynews.com | Laura Ness

Restaurant group shows what’s in a name at Santana Row Augustine is different by design
Restaurant group shows what’s in a name at Santana Row

1 week ago | siliconvalley.com | Laura Ness

Augustine looks markedly different from anything else on Santana Row by design. Even the font used for the logo is utterly distinctive and suggests a tony coastal look and feel. It all started with the name. “I keep a journal of restaurant ideas and I jot down names all the time,” said Bacchus Management Group Executive Tim Stannard, who had 50 names in the hopper before he came up with the winner in 2023. “I had seen Augustine somewhere, and I loved the name.
Big Scores + Great New Wines for Spring

1 week ago | ediblemontereybay.com | Laura Ness

April 11, 2025 – John Benedetti is thrilled to have recently received his first ever 98-point scores, from Jeb Dunnuck.com, for two back-to-back vintages of Saveria Pinot Noir. He had never knowingly submitted wines to Jeb Dunnuck’s publication before, and was a bit nervous when they asked him to show his Sante Arcangeli wines. He had good reason, as their Central Coast reviewer, Virginie Boone, was pretty hard on his wines back when she wrote for Wine Enthusiast.
San Jose restaurateur opens Los Gatos’s first Korean restaurant

2 weeks ago | siliconvalley.com | Laura Ness

Finding a place in Los Gatos to launch another of her Danbi Korean restaurants had long been a goal for Janet Soh. The 54-year old entrepreneur has two other Danbi locations, one on First Street in downtown San Jose and the other, Danbi Korean Santa Teresa, on Snell Avenue.
San Jose restaurateur opens Los Gatos’s first Korean restaurant

2 weeks ago | mercurynews.com | Laura Ness

New Danbi location is the third of five Janet Soh plans for South Bay.
San Jose restaurateur opens Los Gatos's first Korean restaurant

2 weeks ago | eastbaytimes.com | Laura Ness
Grape Escape: Discoveries Old and New at The SCMWA Grand Tasting - Edible Monterey Bay

2 weeks ago | ediblemontereybay.com | Laura Ness

April 4, 2025 – Mother Nature showed us all who was boss as she put on a full force demo of her gale-ability at the Santa Cruz Mountains Grand Tasting. Winds up to 50mph buffeted my Jeep as I traversed the steep road through the vineyards up to Mountain Winery last Sunday. Trees bent over and the newly unfurled grape leaves waved like a mosh pit at a rave. With spitting rain and winds rocking my car, I was grateful the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers had decided to hold the event indoors.