For us, it’s more than a meal.
it’s a relationship.
it’s an experience.
it’s a lifestyle.
The owners of Dirty Skillet are definitely NOT restauranteurs. Nor do they strive to be. Derrick and Jeannine Jabaay moved to Hope, Alaska in 2013 in order to raise their 6 children in a community where the kids could be… you know… just a touch feral. Starting with a little rental cabin, the Jabaay clan expanded their space to the neighboring property where they created a true home. I mean, it’s a cabin. But it’s truly a home. A few years after moving to Hope, they acquired two more neighboring properties where they built a little restaurant, renovated 8 log cabins, and created a space that people from around the world can experience their own little slice of Alaskan heaven. It isn’t fancy. In fact, if you’re expecting fancy, why on earth would you eat at a place called Dirty Skillet?! It’s a home. It’s our home. And we want to share it with you.
So who is the genius behind this amazing food? Enter Chef April - our Dirty Skillet magic maker. This is our 6th year in business, and Chef April has partnered through it all with us from Day One! After spending a year in Japan as a foreign exchange student, April knew that she was determined for a career in the culinary world. April graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School then made her way to Scotland where she worked in a Michelin Star restaurant named The Peat Inn. From there, April worked for National Geographic as a sous chef for six years. After a series of life events, April thought she gave up cooking for good… boy, was she wrong!... and aren’t we glad she was! Shortly after her brief hiatus, we met Chef April and brought her to Hope, Alaska to open Dirty Skillet. April brings her crazy talents and love for friggin amazing food here, and we couldn't be happier. Like, legit. So. Dang. Happy.
SOOO…. WHERE DID THE NAME “DIRTY SKILLET” COME FROM?
What we know for pretty sure:
Even before the Yukon, Hope is the original place that gold was discovered in the north. More than 8,000 folks came to Hope with the dream of finding their fortune in the Six Mile and Resurrection Creeks. Hotels, social halls, banks, restaurants and brothels quickly dotted the small community, with new arrivals coming daily by boat, foot and wagon. But there was no town name. Some township leaders decided that the place would be named after the next person off the boat. When 17-year old Percy Hope stepped foot off the boat, he had no idea that he was about to leave his legacy. Hope, Alaska is named after a young man who wanted to stake his fortune in Alaska. Little else is known about Percy Hope. His name seems to practically disappear from the history books.
What we aren't quite as sure of (and are pretty sure is total make-believe) but are gonna say as fact anyways:
After landing in town, Percy Hope tried his luck for many months in the waters of the Resurrection Creek and Six Mile Creek. Although he managed to pan a few gold flakes, he never did strike it rich. He did, however, gather enough gold to purchase an old dirty skillet. With that skillet, Percy Hope made his name by providing hearty, heaping, home-style cooked foods for the other prospectors and their families. Percy Hope's legacy lives on here at Dirty Skillet.
