RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
VENDOR OF THE YEAR
HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Pursuit connects guests and staff to iconic places through unforgettable experiences that become inspiring stories to tell. What started with a handful of storied properties has grown into a collection 18 worldclass point-of-interest attractions and 29 distinctive lodges.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
DIRTY SKILLET
Derrick and Jeannine Jabaay, along with their little corgi, Betty, are the unlikely restaurateurs behind Dirty Skillet in tiny Hope, Alaska. The Jabaay’ s moved to Hope in 2013 with their six children in search of a place where their kids could grow up with a little more freedom, a lot more wilderness, and the opportunity to be just a touch feral. What began with one little rental cabin eventually grew across several neighboring properties into a family home, a collection of rustic log cabins known as Hope Alaska’ s Bear Creek Lodge, and somewhat unexpectedly— a restaurant. Dirty Skillet was never intended to be fancy. It was built to feel like the place it grew from: warm, a little quirky, unmistakably Alaskan, and genuinely welcoming. Today, the Dirty Crew serves elevated internationally-inspired comfort food for travelers from around the world alongside the locals who call Hope home, with good food, live music, and the kind of hospitality that makes strangers feel like family. After all, nobody comes to a restaurant called Dirty Skillet expecting white tablecloths. And that’ s exactly the point.
VENDOR OF THE YEAR
KODIAK BREWING & STILL
Ben moved to Alaska in 1991 in his late twenties, first working in Denali National Park then training sled dogs for the Iditarod. Active in the home brewing scene in Homer, he moved to Kodiak in ' 94 and soon missed the growing brewery culture of the mid nineties. Busy building houses and raising a family he continued brewing and researching the business of beer. Finally opening Kodiak Island Brewing Co in 2003 he brought the passion to the island. Recently diversifying into spirits the business is evolving with the changing landscape of tastes and social habit.