LORETTA FITTING
NATHAN BENTLEY
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska; Nathan Bentley is an Alaskan through and through. Since childhood, annual family traditions of hunting and fishing have guided his career to represent the Last Frontier. Spending time with his parents in the kitchen as a child, he knew this was what he always wanted to
Since then, he has been nominated for James Beard Best Chef: Pacific and Northwest in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and a finalist for 2026. The restaurant has also been recognized by Wine Spectator, with an Award of Excellence from 2021-2023, and a Best of Award of Excellence since 2024. do. Nathan started his culinary schooling at King Tech High School in Anchorage. He then moved on to attend the Culinary Arts program at the University of
Alaska Anchorage where he transferred for his final semester to Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy. Following culinary school he began to work for Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. where he rose to the Executive Chef position at the young age of 24. While working for RUI, he honed his craft and gained knowledge of running not just a kitchen, but restaurants as a whole. In July of 2019, Nate ventured off on his own and opened Altura Bistro: a contemporary American restaurant focusing on elevating comfort food. The vision was to enhance the culinary scene in Alaska; from sourcing the highest quality ingredients to operating a scratch kitchen.
SAMANTHA BAILEY
MANAGER OF THE YEAR CHOP HOUSE
LORETTA FITTING
SERVER OF THE YEAR
FAST EDDY’ S RESTAURANT
Born and raised in Tok, Loretta moved to Anchorage after high school to attend UAA. Her first restaurant job was at Simon & Seafort’ s. She began as a host and later moved into serving. What started as a college job grew into a career. When Loretta returned home, that experience came with her to Fast Eddy’ s Restaurant. Over the past six years, her gift for making guests feel like old friends has flourished. Away from work, Loretta’ s world revolves around her two children. She is raising them in the same community that shaped her own life and never misses a chance to give back. During the Mukluk Fire, even as members of her own family lost their homes, Loretta delivered food to firefighters and others in need.
Hospitality isn’ t something she turns on when she walks into work. It is simply who she is. Loretta didn’ t earn the title of Server of the Year through excellent service alone. She earned it through the grit of a single mother, the heart of a lifelong Alaskan, and a lifetime of caring for the people and the place she calls home. She is Alaska hospitality at its very best. Thanks, Jackie Young