May 23, 2012--Andrew Morrison has played major chef roles in some of America's biggest cities, but says Pittsburgh should not be "underestimated" because of its smaller size.

The executive chef of the Fairmont Pittsburgh, Downtown, says he finds that size to be one of the city's best points.

"You can get out of Pittsburgh quickly if you want," he says. "You have all the fine, cultural things Downtown, but in 20 or 30 minutes, you can be in the country."

Morrison's job at the Fairmont has him overseeing the food and beverage activities at the Fairmont, including the signature restaurant, Habitat, and the busy lounge, Andys.

Before coming to Pittsburgh, the native of Cheshire, England, was executive sous chef at the Four Seasons Atlanta and the Four Seasons Miami. While in Florida, he was a private chef at an exclusive private-island resort. He also was involved in projects in New York City and Seattle. Morrison lives in the North Side.

The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:

Jack Nicholson

Pick one:

A. Go-Gos

B. Goo-Goo Dolls

C. Lady Gaga

D. Yo Gabba Gabba

D. Yo Gabba Gabba. I'm embarrassed to say it's the only one I'm familiar with.

The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:

An ivory Rickenbacker bass guitar. I didn't realize what I had and sold it to buy my first motorbike.

The superpower I wish I had in real life and why:

Reading people's minds -- but only if I had the ability to turn it on and off. Being invisible would be fun, too.

I can't live without my: iPod, cellphone, DVR, or laptop?

iPod

My favorite reality show:

I don't watch reality TV.

App I wish I could invent:

Something that makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about

Favorite brunch food:

I don't eat brunch, but I do like poached eggs.

Favorite guilty pleasure:

Bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches

Something I would do over if I could and why:

Learn to play the piano as a kid. My mom was a pianist, and we had a piano in our house growing up. I could always find something more important to do than sit down for a piano lesson.

Pick one:

A. Pirates

B. Penguins

C. Steelers

D. Other

E. I hate sports

B. Penguins

My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:

Sidney Crosby

Favorite lunchtime spot:

Habitat, of course.

Top thing on my 'Bucket List' to do before I'm gone:

Travel Asia

In five years, I'd like to:

Be lighter

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh is:

It's quiet

Star I'd like to dance with on "Dancing With the Stars":

Oh, boy. I don't know any dancing stars.

Three people I'd love to have dinner with:

Four actually. My parents and my grandparents. I miss all of them.

My favorite sandwich, plus fixings:

Tuna salad. I love all sandwiches, though. The sandwich is the single greatest food in the world.

One word my mother would use to describe me:

Difficult

Celebrity crush:

I've met enough celebrities to realize that they look nice in photos, but they are generally not people on whom I develop crushes.

The oldest thing in my refrigerator is:

Maybe ketchup and mustard. Every time I go to the store, I think I need it, so I buy a jar of each. The funny thing is I rarely use either of these things at home, so they are just piling up.

When I was 10, I wanted to be:

A race car driver or a conductor

Exercise I hate most:

I hate all exercise and it shows.

I'm deathly afraid of:

Nothing. Confronting the things that challenge us is how we get stronger. I will say that heights make me uncomfortable.

If I was auditioning for "American Idol," my song would be:

I don't know if this is allowed, but I would play my guitar. It would have to be something like Santana's "Samba Pa' Ti," because I like that song and I can't play much else all the way through.

The first band I saw in concert (when and where):

Motorhead in a pub outside of Manchester with a bunch of Hells Angels, long before anyone knew who Motorhead was.

The best concert I've ever seen:

King Crimson, because I love their music, Pink Floyd because they have a great light show, and Paolo Conte for just being cool.

TV marathon I could watch all day and why:

I just got through "Lost." I need a break from TV shows.

Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:

The bridges. I ride past them on my bike every day.

Saturday mornings you'll find me:

At work ... no, probably on my way to work. It takes a little longer on Saturday mornings.

Best new gadget I've tried recently:

iPod Touch

The person I'm most often mistaken for:

James Bond. Must be the accent.

In high school, I was:

Trouble

The most famous person I ever became friends with:

I have signed a confidentiality agreement.

The movie that always makes me cry:

"Bambi"

My most treasured fashion accessory is:

My watch

What you'll always find in my glove compartment:

Registration and proof of insurance. I get asked for it a lot.

My most embarrassing junk food:

Wendy's chicken sandwich

If I weren't a chef, I'd be:

Hmm ... a surgeon? I already have the knife skills.

The last book I read:

Wow, I haven't read a book since my son was born.

Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:

"Star Wars"

My favorite website:

Google

My most memorable fashion mistake:

Kung Fu shoes worn as real shoes. It was when I lived in L.A.

If I could live my life as someone else, it would be:

Someone rich and healthy

My childhood nickname was:

Andy

My favorite "bad" movie is:

I love 1950s sci fi.

My first job:

Paper boy, up at 6 a.m. to deliver newspapers on my bicycle before school

My worst job:

I've enjoyed all my jobs.

My favorite cable channel:

I don't have cable. I only use streaming Netflix now.

The song that always gets me out on the dance floor and why:

I don't dance ... in public.

Life would be better without:

SUVs

If I could tour with any two bands, they would be:

King Crimson and Led Zeppelin in the 70s

I never travel without my:

iPod

People would be surprised to know that I:

Was an extra in a movie called "Girlfriend from Hell"

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