will travel for food: Q&A with jessica from cheatdayeats

jessica hirsch is the mastermind behind cheatdayeats & your room service. not only is she a badass business babe, but one of my favorite accounts to follow on instagram!

i’m doing a quick q&a with Jessica to help you all get to know her, learn more about how she started her food blog & travel businesses.

plot twist: she used to be a math teacher! I love that she used to work a normal 9-5 and has transitioned into a completely unique, self employed career.

Q&A WITH JESSICA FROM CHEATDAYEATS

Ok, so you have one of my favorite food blogs/accounts on Instagram. Tell me more about how you got your start?

Thank you! That means a lot  especially coming from another amazing creator such as yourself.  

I started CheatDayEats before the terms “content creator” or “influencer” were even a thing. I always had a passion for food and travel and documenting those moments.  I was THAT friend who was the go-to person when it came to finding the best restaurants and took way too many photos of her food. I decided to take those passions and start my account because Instagram seemed to be a place to connect with others over a shared passion. It was a hobby and nothing more at the time I started.  What started as something simple and a place to share with a community became something so big and it is truly a dream I am grateful for.

We have to talk about how you were a math teacher! What was it like going from being a full time teacher to traveling the world for food?

As my account started to grow and more opportunities arose, there were times I felt I was living a double life lol. Math teacher by day, influencer by night. It came to the point where doing both didn’t feel right. I knew that in order to really see CheatDayEats get to its full potential I needed to put my all into it. Brian, my fiance, joined the team and I gave in my 2 weeks notice in June of 2017 and when that summer began, it was like it never ended. I’m proud of my decision because I believe that I had to follow my gut and my heart and that was no longer in teaching but in following my true passion of sharing food with audiences around the world. 

How has your job changed now that travel is restricted? Are you more focused on local food & restaurants?

The pandemic actually pushed me towards something I had always wanted to incorporate more into CheatDayEats which is recipe focused content. I shifted as everyone naturally could not visit restaurants and was looking for more fun things to cook and bake at home. 

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled / most memorable meal?

So tough!! I LOVE Rome! We ate cacio e pepe and amatriciana for 5 days straight and it was GLORIOUS!  However, Nusa Penida in Bali was probably the most breathtaking place we ever been to as far as scenery. 

Somewhere you’d love to travel & why / what food or restaurants would you want to visit?

I would love to travel to Japan for the food.   I have heard amazing things about the food scene there. Australia is at the top of my list too. Been dreaming of going there for so long. I feel like it’s one of those places I feel like I could live for a couple years. 

Are there any foods you refuse to eat?

Eyeballs. Just can’t stomach it lol!

Since you’ve been spending more time at home, do you find yourself cooking more? Do you have a go to dish or something you really enjoy making?

I started making my own ice cream and even did a soft serve version. I impressed myself and it’s actually quite easy! 

I’m obsessed with your “Your Room Service” account and concept because I love room service – there’s nothing better than eating in a robe in bed! What’s your go to room service order?

I totally agree. Eating in a comfy robe in bed feels so luxurious. My go to order is a latte, eggs benedict and I need something sweet so either french toast or pancakes! 

For anyone in NYC (or next time someone travels there), what are your top restaurant & bar recommendations you always give?I literally can’t visit New York without stopping in at one of The Meatball Shops – it’s a tradition for us. I’d love to know what I should add to my list!  

I have a 2 day food itinerary and map you can find here! :

be sure to follow jessica on instagram & try some of her new recipes!