Chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske opened Contra in 2012 in the Lower East Side neighborhood, showcasing a regularly-changing tasting menu-style format —Jeremiah in charge of the savory dishes while Fabian helmed the dessert and bread program. The restaurant was a welcome addition to the city’s diverse restaurant scene and was recognized by the New York Times’ restaurant critic Pete Wells, who named Contra one of The 10 Best New Restaurants of 2014. In the summer of 2015, they opened their second project Wildair, a casual bistro located two doors down with a strong emphasis on natural wines and simple fare. Wildair was nominated for Best New Restaurant 2016 by the James Beard Foundation, and Jeremiah and Fabian were among Food & Wine’s 2016 Best New Chefs.