Brentley Stead

Clean lines. Polished tiles. Sparkling glasses. The interior of Restaurant Doro might be intimidating, if it weren’t for its chef and owner, Christopher Polidoro. He brings a comforting sense of warmth and relaxation to the space. His restaurant is a fine-dining destination, but Polidoro says, “Cooking is what I like to do; it’s not pretentious.” Nor is the spirit of the place. The focus here is squarely on the ingredients of the dishes presented to the guests.

From the world of banking to the heart of a soul food institution, Celestia Mobley’s career trajectory has been nothing short of impressive. Her latest Jacksonville dining concept, Jazzy’s Restaurant & Lounge, is giving King Street a long-overdue culinary (and musical) boost. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Mobley has seen Northeast Florida’s gastronomic tide ebb and flow.

Berry Good Farms is a nontraditional farm with a nontraditional mission. Located at the North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) in Arlington, the farm is a micro-enterprise, teaching farm, culinary school and farmers market all wrapped into one private nonprofit. It was launched by parents with a shared vision: to provide a fuller life experience for children with intellectual differences.