Lobster Poutine

Lobster Poutine @ Great Maple

Oh, sweet Jesus. You’ve worked hard keeping those abs in formation for the summer. But beach season is nearly over, so it’s time to pony up to some high-calorie happiness. This riff on the Canadian classic is it. Traditionally made with fries, cheese curds and gravy, Great Maple essentially replaces the gravy with lobster bisque and generous chunks of sherry-steeped Maine lobster over steak fries and cheese curds. It’s a moaner. 1451 W. Washington St., North Park, 619.255.2282, thegreatmaple.com.

Pumpkin Sesame Donut

Pumpkin Sesame Donut @ Paris Baguette

This chain bakery at the Asian grocery outlet Zion Market has a huge selection of French-Asian baked goods. The pumpkin-sesame donut is a little grenade of awesomeness, with a chewy, glutinous crust (made of rice flour), bean paste, pumpkin syrup and sesame. 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa, 858.650.0404, parisbaguetteusa.com.

Beef kebab

Beef kebab @ Grill House Café

My wife’s Afghan. We have a family gathering at least once a week. And at every one, there are kebabs that put most restaurants to shame. The Kebab Shop and Grill House are the closest things I’ve found to Afghan mamas’ home cooking. A tender foot-long stretch of beef kebab is served with basmati rice. Season it up with a little sumac (tart, lemon-flavored spice) to cut the fat of the meat and it’s one hell of a lunch. (Note: It’s next to Surati Farsan, one of the best Indian joints in San Diego.) 9494 Black Mountain Rd., Mira Mesa, 858.271.5599. grillhousecafe.com.

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