Filipino Sweets and Bloody Marys: A Guide to Snacking Along the Bay to Breakers Route

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Try not to nibble on Team Cheetos

For anyone not paying attention to all the signs around town, Bay to Breakers busts out on Sunday morning. It's a fabulous way to get in some exercise, people-watching, and sun, on what promises to be a beautiful day. If that exercise part proves too daunting, fret not: There are plenty of options for drinking and snacking along the way should you decide to break from the B2B pack.

If a craving for Filipino food strikes early, Jollibee and its sister shop Red Ribbon Bakery (200 Fourth St. at Howard) will be waiting for you. Irish pub the Chieftain (198 Fifth St. at Howard) opens at 6:30 a.m. for pre- or mid-race Bloody Marys, while the cafe at Harvest Urban Market (191 Eighth St. at Howard) will open at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and the usual grab 'n' go stuff. It wouldn't be our first choice, but you could walk another block and surrender all pretense of health at Burger King or Starbucks.
The Hayes Street hill is a doozy, but the blow might be softened with an espresso or sandwich from Arlequin To Go (384 Hayes at Franklin). You could hit Herbivore (531 Divisadero at Fell) for a healthy brunch, or when you reach Divis, you could stop by Madrone Lounge (500 Divisadero at Fell) for drinks. The latter already has a big welcome sign for B2B participants. Once in Golden Gate Park, keep an eye out for the Happy Belly food carts in case you want a kimchee-topped hot dog.

If you make it all the way to the end, you deserve to be rewarded with nourishment. Conveniently, the Park Chalet (1000 Great Highway at Ocean Beach) opens at 10 a.m. to serve up grilled oysters, bratwurst, wings, burgers, and the like. And if you don't want to stop along the race route but still want to snack, keep an eye out for Monette Peachey of South San Francisco's Peachey Perfections, who's handing out free chocolates. Also look for Mike Richardson of the just-launched Urbanectar; he'll be selling fresh-squeezed strawberry juice, watermelon juice, and lemonade.