A seasonal restaurant in the small Alaska community of Hope has been named Restaurant of the Year by the statewide association representing Alaska’s hospitality industry.
Dirty Skillet, located at Bear Creek Lodge, received the statewide hospitality award after completing its eighth season.
Owners Jeannine Stafford-Jabaay and Derrick Jabaay say the recognition belongs to their team and the hospitality they work to create for guests.
Stafford-Jabaay says she wants customers to feel like they are visiting their grandmother’s house, where they are welcomed with plenty of food and made to feel comfortable.
Dirty Skillet operates seasonally and serves both visitors and residents in Hope.
The restaurant is known for its eclectic menu, playfully named dishes and live music.
Stafford-Jabaay says the team also focuses on building personal connections with customers, remembering names and stories and welcoming guests back year after year.
She says receiving statewide recognition is especially meaningful for a restaurant in a small community like Hope.
Dirty Skillet is scheduled to reopen in mid-May 2027.
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