The last two days of my trip were my “personal days” – after waking up disoriented on the couch in the previous night’s dress and shoes, I had to recharge (and recuperate from a crazy evening at Rex’s) at Baker Beach with Steph before some chill time with my family. Saturday was a full day spent with my family in Vallejo at my adorable godson’s 7^th birthday party. Got to catch up with my cousins, love on the two new babes in the fam (so tiny. SO cute), and eat my weight in Filipino food (I think they get everything catered by Goldilocks).

Have you had quality Filipino food? If my people will be honest with themselves for one minute – it’s kind of an oxymoron, right? To buck the trend, the food at my family parties in Vallejo is consistently delicious. Filipino spaghetti – made with a sweet banana-based sauce – is without a doubt my childhood favorite.

There were the typical unidentifiable meats and overcooked veggies inexplicably mixed with seafood (mussels and chicken?), floating in a sweet, salty, vinegary mystery sauce, best served over rice – it’s a gamble, but always good. Bistek, Filipino beef steak teeming with onions, made a late appearance, and luckily I was already at the table filling my third plate, so I got the freshest pickins.

I’m drooling a little bit.

And then there was lechon (roasted pig). My friends were horrified. They were more horrified when I picked up the cleaver, giddy as a child, and hacked off a few choice cuts of dark meat for myself. Slather some Mang Tomas on top, some rice – sarap!

After an exhausting day I spent the evening hanging out with Steel and Steph playing Guitar Hero and – what else – TETRIS ATTACK. Get re-addicted, it’ll change your adult life.

In the best role reversal of the trip, while Steph and I were glued to the screen cursing each other playing Tetris Attack, Steel made us these adorable desserts – fresh cut pineapple with some kind of subtle fruity ice cream they had in the freezer, with a splash of Malibu. Tasty!

Now Sunday. We drove down to Sausalito, a gorgeous drive that nearly did me in. Why must lovely roads wind so sharply? Anyway, it was a special trip to a spot called Fred’s, famous for their deep-fried French toast. We met up with great friends Josh and Travis and Rhianna (who JUST welcomed their new babe Olivia into the world - Congrats, guys!). A rare treat, I indulged Shane-style with deep-fried French toast, hash browns, eggs, corned beef hash, and toast. Incidentally - sourdough toast is its own beast in San Francisco. Don’t tell me “it’s just sourdough bread, you can get that anywhere.’ That’s a bold statement, leaving you liable to get a thrashing from me – or anyone else who has ever lived in San Francisco, for that matter.

Fred’s deep-fried French toast is a slab of three pieces deep-fried into a perfect trio of golden-brown triangles. Melted butter on top, syrup all over. The texture is initially crispy, but not flaky, and French toast inside is perfectly moist and saturated with creamy cinnamon goodness.

To stave off the pending food coma after the brunch feast, we took a stroll down the Sausalito boardwalk, poking our heads in a candy store for some saltwater taffy – for me, a handful of Lemonheads and GIANT Now n’ Laters. Giant Now n’ Laters smack of my childhood, and Lemonheads are the reason I got two cavities my senior year of high school. One story in particular sticks out – in the vaguest terms, a certain potential romantic interest situation went sour, and the guy made it up to me by buying me a box of Lemonheads…and all was well.

After that, hugs all around and Steel, Steph, and I were back across the bridge to San Francisco. We made a beeline for Tartine Bakery. Tartine, of James Beard Award-winning fame, is totally worth the trip, and also worth standing in the eternal line. My best recommendation – get your treats to go and stroll down to Dolores Park. For the daring and indulgent, Bi-Rite has some killer salted caramel ice cream. Bring the Lactaid and go all out.

One last stop at Falletti’s Grocery for some Vicolo frozen pizzas (my favorite!) to stuff in my suitcase, and I was on my way to SFO, and onward to Chicago. A word on Falletti’s – if you remember the opening credits of Full House, where they’re picnicking on a hill in front of the painted ladies – I lived two blocks down the hill from that scene. A trek to Falletti’s always involved a hike up that steep incline and a tiptoe down – both ways. Was it worth it? Every time. Great, albeit steeply priced, produce, cuts of meat, and any deliciously snobbish, organic product under the sun. Impressive wine collection and a full aisle of diverse organic imported ethnic foods.

All too soon, it was over.  Can’t wait for next time, San Francisco.