Five Miles Up: Joe Morton of 'Scandal' and the Power of Gold



Upon seeing the photo of Joe Morton above, fans of the ABC series “Scandal” may react with a chill snaking up their spine. The image is, after all, of Rowan Pope, father to “Scandal’s” Olivia. No, Morton’s not as sinister as his character, though he did confirm a running theme with FMU for his character this season – retaliation. So does the New York native have anything in common with the “Command” of B613? Only Sunday dinners. Morton’s quite the foodie. The dish he most likes served up… luckily, it’s not revenge.

What’s something you never fail to pack in your suitcase?
Toothbrush, lotion, shaving cream and a razor.

Carry-on or check-in?
I usually check-in, depending on where I’m going.

Window or aisle?
Window.

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
We went to Zihuatanejo in Mexico. We had this wonderful apartment that overlooked the water, had views of the mountains in the distance and wonderful sunrises. We even had a wading pool outside of our room. The food was delicious. That felt like almost the perfect vacation.

What’s the worst traveling annoyance you’ve experienced?
We were coming back to New York from Los Angeles and the airline managed to lose, and never find, my suitcase.

 Where has been your favorite destination for filming?
Being on the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln during the filming of “Stealth” was probably my favorite. It was certainly the most intriguing place I’ve filmed.

What's the silliest souvenir you’ve ever brought back from a trip?
I’m usually not one to bring back souvenirs, but my girlfriend’s brother likes to collect shot glasses. So wherever we are, we look for some he might enjoy.

Ever try a food you wished you hadn't?
No, I’ve been lucky with that. The foods I’ve tried have all been good. Nothing’s repeated itself over and over again, or gotten stuck, if you will.

Favorite hotel you've ever stayed in?
The Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam. It has wonderful views and a great location near the canals and Anne Frank House. It wasn’t fancy schmancy, but wonderfully put together.

Favorite restaurant you’ve discovered while traveling.
Just came back from Washington, D.C. We ate at two restaurants we really liked. One was Bistro Bis and the other was Founding Farmers. We had lunch in the first, brunch in second.

The first, Bistro Bis, is upscale, part of the Hotel George. It’s very beautiful, the food is delicious and the wines were great. The second, Founding Farmers, gets all of their meats, produce and cheese from local farmers. Really, really good food. All organic. The water, even sparkling, is filtered three times.

We also ate a restaurant in Paris that was unbelievable. We went to the Moulin Rouge for New Year’s Eve and met this couple that were very well off, who invited us to dinner the following night. All I remember about the restaurant’s name was its translation in English -- Power of Gold. When the restaurant presented its wine list, along with their signature duck dish, it was a book bigger than the Old and New Testament put together.

Biggest regret you've ever had while on vacation.
We were at the Tower of London and never went inside. I really wish we’d gone up.

 The one thing you're willing to splurge on when traveling above all else.
Good wine and a good meal.

Artists on your travel playlist?
Cassandra Wilson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Robert Johnson.

Where would you take someone visiting your hometown for the first time?
New York is my hometown. We recently had some friends come in from South Africa. We took a subway all way up to 164 Street, where I gave them a tour through Harlem, back down through the Upper West Side then all the way down to Chinatown so they’d get a sense of New York.

 You only get one more trip in your lifetime. Where will it be?
I’d love to go to China. It’s one of those places that’s been, for one reason or another, kind of a mystery, and intriguing, all these years. It would be great to go there, walk through and explore its history, as well as seeing what modern China is like. When I was a kid, my dad was in the Army, and we lived in Okinawa for three and a half years, so that culture is very much a part of my upbringing.