With even more summer travel to see our Midwest Ohana and the small mammal college mascot tour (wolverine, badger and wildcat), native-Californian Birdie #1 offers a guest post on the "Hella-good" things that a (South) Bay Area born-and-bred birdie craves.

Cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and fresh fries oh my! In-N-Out is junk food as its finest. As in watch them slice individual potatoes for fries. Their menu is simple, college-student-budget-friendly, and also includes an extensive “not-so-secret” menu, featuring a Neapolitan shake, animal style fries (fries smothered in cheese and sauce), and even grilled cheese for my anti-beef brother.
Yeah, I know this is technically a SoCal thing, but we have them in the Bay Area now, and it's what I come home for. Fast, fresh, and delicious.

Ginormous sandwiches named Go Sharks, Steve Jobs, and Matt Cain? Count me in!
Ike’s sandwiches are heavy and filling, and come with a caramel-apple lollipop for dessert. Even my perpetually hungry brother can only eat a single sandwich in one sitting, and the rest of us manage between a half and a third and call it a meal. They have plenty of meat options, and the vegan meat is AWESOME. Steve Jobs, Go Sharks and Going Home for Thanksgiving are household favorites.
Note that Ike's closes promptly at 7PM so plan ahead. It's still very much the suburbs, after all.

This is the place that started my coffee obsession. You can customize your brew based on its flavors and caffeine level. And when I say flavors, I really mean you can taste the difference between each type of coffee. The reigning household favorite is Jacob’s Wonderbar.
Be warned that Philz’s coffee is highly caffeinated, and even the least caffeinated brews have been known to give this birdie jitters. And counter-intuitively, the lighter roasts are the most most c-c-c-caffeinated.
Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria
Why would you eat at an East Coast pizzeria on the West Coast? Because it’s delicious, that’s why. Amici’s has more different kinds of toppings than at any college pizza place I know. Household favorites include: eggplant pizza (aptly named "Boston"), Manhattan clam, and the Milano.
Mama Birdie’s Kitchen
If you’re reading this blog, you know why I’ve missed eating with my Ohana. There really is no place like home.