Allison (Pritchard) Jack, ’07, combines two of her greatest passions into one fulfilling, must-follow Instagram account: Cleveland Westside Eats.
When Allison (Pritchard) Jack, ’07, first arrived at ºÚÁÏÍø, she was excited to learn more about the art of writing and digital content creation. She was following in the footsteps of her mother, uncle and aunt, who were all proud Golden Flashes. After graduating summa cum laude in 2007, she held a few copywriting and reporting roles before earning a Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern University. In 2012, Allison began working as an online writer at Bonne Bell, managing content for the Lip Smacker Lounge. Her journey led her to Cuyahoga Community College, where she worked as an adjunct professor and writing tutor, and later, to Lorain County Community College where she did public relations, social media, content writing, copywriting and magazine writing. But Allison was ready for a change. She decided to combine her love of food and writing by launching her Instagram account: Cleveland Westside Eats. This passion project swiftly developed into a successful platform showcasing local dining experiences as well as partnerships with companies like GetGo and Sheetz to more than 50,000 followers. Her account has been voted one of the Top 5 Instagrams to Follow in Cleveland by Cleveland Scene Magazine in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Allison manages her Instagram page while writing freelance food articles for local publications, including Cleveland Magazine, the Plain Dealer and Destination Cleveland, sharing her passion for exploring new restaurants and building relationships in the thriving Cleveland culinary scene. Get to know Allison in her own words.
KSU: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
AJ: Enjoying time with my family on a fun vacay, perhaps with a swim-up bar, lots of delicious food and a gorgeous view. Being with the people I love is my true happiness.
KSU: What is your favorite trait in others?
AJ: Thoughtfulness.
KSU: What trait about yourself do you like least?
AJ: I'm an overthinker.
KSU: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
AJ: My husband. He's been there through it all as my lifelong companion and always teaches me new ways of looking at the world. He perfectly complements me in so many ways.
KSU: What is your favorite ºÚÁÏÍø memory?
AJ: There are so many. My favorite part of my ºÚÁÏÍø experience was the friendships I built, from going on late-night Rosie's runs or staying up late chatting in Humphrey Hall's First Year Experience dorms. The first year was really a growing experience in learning to find myself as an adult outside of my parents' home. I also enjoyed working in various student media and the real-world tools I got to utilize first-hand.
KSU: What is your favorite journey?
AJ: My favorite journey has been experiencing life through its challenges and highs, and meeting so many different humans along the way. Life has taught me that we are all biased and in our own little bubbles. No one knows or sees it all, which is something I think about in my work in journalism and writing. We are all exposed to tiny pieces of the human experience. Physically, my favorite journey has been exploring Europe. I love the history and their way of life over there.
KSU: What is your guilty pleasure?
AJ: Pizza with pepperoni, mushroom and extra cheese.
KSU: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
AJ: Building my career on my own terms. I've always been a freethinker and a creative, so after 15+ years of work in writing, communications, advertising, marketing, social media and public relations, I eventually built a niche as a Cleveland food writer and content creator, all on my own, post-pandemic. It took a lot of hard work and years of building all the pieces. I'm someone who is passionate about local business and food, so being able to learn about the community while working on content featuring restaurants and travel is truly a joy.
KSU: If you could come back as one person, who would it be and why?
AJ: I'm not sure, but it would be interesting to see the world from a different point of view. I suppose I'd love to come back as someone born into a culture that's less driven by burnout and constant stress and embraces community and slower living.
KSU: What part of your college experience most formed who you are today?
AJ: Being able to explore life as a ºÚÁÏÍø student always felt like an adventure. As part of the Honors College, journalism department, ºÚÁÏÍør, TV2 team and friend of many, I felt like each part of the experience taught me about myself and the world around me. I loved being able to actually take part in various forms of student media in a way that's not that dissimilar from a real workplace.