A walk-in cooler and dry-aging room set the stage for a plethora of top-grade proteins available at Homegrown Meats, a new La Jolla butcher shop co-owned by Matt Rimel of the nearby Zenbu Lounge. The shop carries grass-fed beef from Mendenhall Ranch in Mt. Palomar in addition to natural prime beef from California, veal cutlets, lamb, pork chops, wild boar bacon, fowl and much more. And no meat market would be complete without fresh produce, dry rubs and raw herbs, all of which you’ll find here to compliment that prized Muscovy duck you just had wrapped. 7660 Fay Ave., Suite C, 858-454-6328.

P.F. Chang’s has discovered a way to satisfy sweet tooths with minimal overhead while giving customers more variety in one sitting. The franchise recently implemented eight different “mini desserts” served in three-ounce shot glasses, which include apple pie, strawberry cheesecake, s’mores and tiramisu. Slam them down like tequila if you must, but keep a bib handy.

Sexy gelatos incorporating cocoa powders from all over the world await at Chocolat, a Milan-based creamery that opened recently in the Gaslamp District. The café features two dozen flavors of gelato, many of them incorporating unexpected ingredients such as chilies, balsamic vinegar, anise and citrus fruits. Also in the offing are salads, crepes, paninis and carpaccio. As for those cow-print stools and the company’s artsy cow logo, well, they’re rather cute. 509 Fifth Ave., 619-238-9410.

Will Gustwiller of Eclipse Chocolat presents a five-course “Southern comfort” dinner using chocolate throughout the entire meal, scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 20. Three seatings are available at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The titillating menu includes white chocolate biscuits with sausage gravy, sautéed greens with cocoa nibs, cornmeal-crusted chicken with chocolate waffles and more. You can bet on dessert. The cost is $35 per person. 2121 El Cajon Blvd., 619-578-2984.

Wine Steals III opened earlier this month in Cardiff and adheres to the rustic, European-style motif seen at its Hillcrest and Point Loma locations. The building’s glassy, contemporary exterior leads into a stone-and-mortar bar lounge, a windowed dining area and a retail section brimming with both affordable and high-end wines. A tea and coffee station serves the morning set, and the structure features a front outdoor patio and free underground parking. Savory thin-crust pizzas, cheeseboards and salads are available too. 1953 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff by the Sea, 760-230-2657.

The Ventura-based Urbane Café, known for its hand-kneaded foccacia bread and lean sandwich meats, has launched a San Diego location at the Morena trolley station in Mission Valley. The standouts include cilantro chicken salad with red cabbage, the rosemary chicken sandwich with roasted peppers and provolone, and an extraordinary chipotle ranch dressing, which sings praise to anything it touches. 5375 Napa St., 619-543-9700.