Anthony Bourdain's Post Event Treats: Medjool & Doc's Clock

Finding good food after 10 p.m. on a Monday night can be a challenge. Last night with Anthony Bourdain, we ended up at Medjool and Doc's Clock. I wanted a Mission area cigarette friendly place that wasn't a mob scene, so we could all hear each other talk. Front Porch and Emmy's Spaghetti Shack were out since they're pretty noisy.

Drinks were our main focus. We were only going to graze on a few appetizers. Medjool's roof seemed to be a great option, so Tony could take in the city views. However, we ended up eating downstairs since they weren't serving food on the deck. Bummer that the deck was closing up when we arrived. Our Medjool picks were: lamb & fig tagine, Moroccan beef meatball, tomato, and egg tagine; grilled octopus with chick pea salad (too many greens, too little octopus); Spanish cheese plate, lamb Kefta and the Medjool sampler with hummus, tabouleh, and baba ghanouj.

One Medjool server told Anthony he was a fan of his show. Folks politely gawked, and the Doc's Clock bartender tried to give him quarters for the jukebox. He declined her offer, and was enjoying picking some songs that included Pale Blue Eyes by Velvet Underground.

Below is part of the email I sent to Tony last week.

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There are many awesome Mission eats on 24th Street or Mission that would be interesting and fun to check out. Street food may be available at one or more of the places unless they are shuttered on Monday. The 'hood can be a little dicey at night but as long as you don't wear the 2 prominent gang colors of red or blue, it's cool. We've lived here almost 4 years and never had problems. But then again, Oscar's a big guy and my flirty personality and Spanish help.

If it's not raining, we can head to Medjool's deck after eating, where ample views of the City and locals, as well as a lot of smoking happens. We also have lots of divey bars that we love and think you might, too.

Eating Option 1: Tortas made by a sweet woman in her 50s. She shares space in a liquor mart, and there are only around 10 seats in the whole place.
Eating Option 2: Tacos and of course burritos

Comments

[sam]

I knew it. I was at Tony's talk yesterday evening and I said to Catherine Nash (of food musings blog), "I wonder where Mary Ladd is going to take Tony for food AND cigarettes." I figured it would be you two meeting up with him later and he did mention to the whole audience that smoking AND dining was what he had been promised.

If you think of any other venues along those lines, do let me know for fred, who follows the "Keith Richards/Anthony Bourdain diet" of Meat, cheese cigarettes and alcohol too.

hope it was fun anyway.

sam

[Mary]

Sam-

It was a fun night. I was still recovering yesterday....

I will let you know if we find other spots that offer food and the chance to smoke. So funny that Fred is on the Keith Richards/Anthony Bourdain diet. It sounds good to me.

Mary