10 thoughts: Amy Morton

Amy Morton is the daughter of Chicago restaurant legend Arnie Morton, founder of Morton’s The Steakhouse. She has more than 25 years of experience in the business working with her dad and creating her own projects. She recently returned from a 10-year hiatus to open Found, an Evanston, IL, restaurant that Chicago magazine recently declared a Best New Restaurant.

1. One thing you don’t know about me is that in the early years of my career, I was a hot head, immature and often disrespected my team in front of others. It’s something I worked very hard on changing and I feel I have succeeded.

2. If I could trade places with one chef it would be Danny Meyer of Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City.

3. One of my most memorable meals was at the original Boule in New York City. Not only did I dine there with a beloved old friend and chef who sadly is no longer with us, but a scent-memory of a basket of green apples there will forever be ingrained in my psyche.

4. If there were no spicy Thai food, I’d have no reason to live.

5. My go-to drink is coconut water. For a cocktail, I prefer one called Babbler with Few American Gin, St-Germain and fresh lime.

6. If I were on death row my last meal would be caviar and lots of it—preferably domestic Sevruga!

7. My worst culinary creation was guacamole in Thailand where, trust me, avocados are rare. The top of the salt shaker came off while I was adding salt and someone told me to add sugar to counter balance the salt. It didn’t work.

8. If I could change one thing about me it would be to eat more alkaline foods naturally.

9. My favorite junk food is Lou Malnati’s butter-crust sausage deep-dish pizza.

10. If I wasn’t a restaurant operator, I’d love to be an anthropologist.