What we’re about
Time to tempt your palate with all the pleasurable flavors that LA, and beyond, has to offer!
Join Pleasure Palate as we do culinary adventures exploring of restaurants (both high-end & holes-in-the-wall), food & beverage tastings, and more. From savory to sweet, spicy to tangy, ethnic to All-American, we'll taste it all! Come along and let us take your taste buds on the ride of their life!
Because we want to burn off some of the calories that we eat, many of our events will have both a dining and physical activity paired together. We do many day trips and weekend adventures that combine the best of both dining and experiencing what LA, SoCal and beyond has to offer in terms of dining options and points of interests.
Pleasure Palate has been around for over 13 years now and in that time we have had over 2,000 events. We offer at least 8 events per month for our members to choose from. This is a very active MeetUp group.
We will focus on various aspects of urban, suburban and rural life, ranging from architectural to cultural, historical to quirky and/or a combination of any of the above to help give you a better appreciation of where we live. Oh, and bring your camera because we encourage all our members to take photos and share their experiences with us on the event pages.
MeetUp charges over $200 each year to maintain the Pleasure Palate site. In addition, it costs a lot of money to maintain memberships to historical societies, newspaper and magazine subscriptions - all to get ideas for future events. So we ask for a voluntary $12.00 annual donation to help defray the costs that MeetUp charges. Members who donate $12 per year get Plus Member status which allows them to bump off a Regular member for a event which is already full. Plus Members can't bump off other Plus members.
To learn more about Pleasure Palate, check out the links below:
Membership and Guidelines
Attendance Policies & 3 Strikes Rule
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Sequoia National Park Weekend Getaway: Crystal Cave & More!Super 8 by Wyndham Lyndsay Olive tree, Lindsay, CA
This event is now full. If you want to join in, you will need to provide your own transportation.
Please Note: Read the directions carefully below BEFORE you RSVP "Yes" for this event.
- This is a two day/overnight weekend trip to Sequoia National Forest. The main goal is to tour the Crystal Cave on Sunday, June 22nd at 9 AM. However, we will be visiting other sites around the national park and also do some hiking trails.
- If you decide to join me on this adventure, then you must book your ticket for the tour of theCrystal Cave now. Make sure to select Sunday, June 22nd at 9 AM. Go here: Crystal Cave - Sequoia Parks Conservancy
- You will also need to book your room now before lodging offerings on the area run out. Book your room here: Super 8 by Wyndham Lindsay Olive Tree, Lindsay (updated prices 2025)
- If I get 4 to 6 people total for this trip, I will rent a minivan or SUV so that we can all carpool together. We will split the cost of the rental and gas evenly. Please note I plan to bring along my 2 small gods, Cacao and TimTam on this road trip. The carpool meeting point will be from my home in Carson at 7 AM.
- There will be meal stops and some hiking at trails in this road trip.
- This event is now FULL. I cannot add any more people unless someone else agrees to be a designated driver since my minivan rental is filled to capacity.
So about 5 years ago, I wanted to visit the Crystal Cave in Sequoia, but they closed it down due to Covid and never reopened it to the public until this summer. Its on been on my bucket list of things to do in California for quite some time now, so I want to cross it off my list. Since we will be in Sequoia, we will visit the General Sherman Tree, one of the largest trees in the world and also do the trail of 100 giants. We will also stop at other points of interest but the main goal is to check out the Crystal Cave on Sunday at 9 AM. So come join me for a summer weekend in Sequoia full of fun and adventure!
- San Dimas & Pomona: Breakfast at Butter Cafe and Visit to the Pet ExpoButter Cafe & Bakery, San Dimas, CA
Please Note: Read the directions carefully below BEFORE you RSVP "Yes" for this event.
- This is a two-part event. We will have breakfast at the Butter Cafe in San Dimas. Afterwards, we will head over to the Pet Expo in Pomona at 10 AM.
- The estimated cost for breakfast at Butter Cafe is around $20 per person. There is a $20 ticket admission for the Pet Expo.
- Butter Cafe menu & pricing: Menu
- More info on the Pet Expo: The #1 Pet Expo in Los Angeles | LA Pet Fair
- The Pomona Fair Grounds where the Pet Expo will take place will also charge for parking.
About 25 years ago, I went to the Bird Expo and ended up buying a parrot, I no longer have that parrot, but I now have many plants and 3 aquariums and 2 dogs. I've been debating about getting another bird(s) again, but I also luv looking at all manner of exotic pets, especially reptiles. Well the Pet Expo is basically for expos combined: Birds, Aquariums, Plants and Reptiles. I missed it last year, but I definitely plan to go. Even if you don't plan to buy a pet, its like visiting a zoo and odds are you will end up seeing animals you have never seen before, close-up and many of them not in cages. Since this is a dinign adventure group, we will first have breakfast at Butter Cafe before heading over to the Pet Expo. So come join me on this day trip to San Dimas and Pomona!
- 4th of July Weekend Getaway: Cincinnati!Hotel Celare, Cincinnati, CA
Please Note: Read the directions carefully BEFORE you RSVP "Yes" for this event.
- This is a 4-day meetup event that involves traveling to Cincinatti and visiting as many points of interest as possible.
- Several of these sites will require admission or tour tickets.
- I booked my flight through American Airlines which offers several flights to and from LAX to CIN. Allegiant Airlines offers a more competitive price, but their flights to and from LX to CIN is very limited. If you sign up for this event and provide me with your email address, I will email my flight and hotel bookings to you.
- You will also need to book your own hotel accommodation. This is where I booked my room: Hotel Celare, Cincinnati Midtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel | Boutique Hotel in Cincinnati
- I will be renting a vehicle for this trip. If you do decide to join me on this adventure then we can carpool and split the cost of the rental and gas evenly. Keep in mind I am not your Uber driver. If you plan to go on different flights or book at different hotels, I am not going to pick you up from the airport nor pick you up from your hotel unless its just a block or two away from where I'm staying at.
- You can ONLY join me on this adventure if you have attended several of my meetups. I am not charging anyone extra money, so basically you are joining me on my vacation. So you need to be LOW MAINTENANCE and DRAMA FREE. This means if things don't go according to plan due to Acts of God, you will take it gracefully instead of complaining or getting into a hissy fit. If you aren't this type of person, then abstain from signing up.
- We will on average be spending about $150 per day on meals and admission prices.
Every year, I try and visit a different state I haven't yet been to. Last year, I went to Tennessee. This year, I want to visit Ohio, primarily Cincinnati. There are plenty of things to do in Cincinnati. Check out this video: (6) The 25 BEST Things To Do In Cincinnati, Ohio & 3 Things To AVOID! - YouTube
So come join me this 4th of July weekend for an adventure in Cincinnati!
- Garden Grove & Santa Ana: Family Style Lunch @ Oc & Lau 2 & Terracotta WarriorsOc & Lau 2, Garden Grove, CA
Please Note: Read the directions carefully below BEFORE you RSVP "Yes" for this event.
1. This is a 2-part event. We will have a family style lunch at Oc & Lau 2 and then check out the Terracotta exhibit at the Bowers Museum at 1 PM.
2. This is a family style dining event, meaning we will order as a group and divide the bill evenly between us all, excluding personal beverages.
3. You cannot have any dietary restrictions for this event.
4. The estimated cost per person is between $60 and $80, so please bring that amount in CA$H.
5. Menu and pricing: Menu – Oc & Lau Restaurant
6. Tickets to the Bower Museum special exhibit for the Terracotta warriors is $29 and can be purchased here: World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century - Bowers Museum
7) Make sure you choose Saturday, July 12th at Noon for the timed date and entry admission.
8) After visiting the exhibit, the bonus round will be going to Francium Chocolates in Tustin for delicious and decadent candies.In the past 16 years or so, the Bowers Museum has had 2 exhibits featuring the Terracotta warriors from China. I have been impressed by both exhibits, so when they announced that they would have a 3rd exhibit this Summer, I made sure to mark it down in my calendar. Well the tickets for members of the museum are on sale now, but soon they will release them to non-members and that's when I will purchase my ticket for Sunday, July 12th at 12 PM. Since we'll be in The OC, why not enjoy a seafood centric lunch at my favorite seafood restaurant over there: Oc & Lau 2! So come join me for a seafood feast and then magnificent ancient history statuary in The OC!
