Messermeister x Middleton Made Knives

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organization that provides fresh, nourishing meals to communities affected by natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and conflict around the world. Founded by chef José Andrés, WCK works alongside local chefs, restaurants, and food producers to respond quickly when people need help most—turning food into a powerful source of comfort, dignity, and connection. From hurricanes and wildfires to earthquakes and communities displaced by war, WCK has served hundreds of millions of meals while supporting the local people and businesses that make each community unique.

Quintin Middleton is the founder and master bladesmith of Middleton Made Knives, a Black-owned culinary knife company he built from a shed in St. Stephen, South Carolina, beginning in 2010. Every blade — whether a one-of-a-kind Signature Collection piece or a Classic Collection knife built for daily use — is handcrafted by Middleton and his team, with no factory production and no outsourcing. His work is rooted in the Gullah-Geechee heritage of the South Carolina low country, and his knives are trusted by chefs including Sean brock, Michael Symon, Kwame Onwuachi, and JJ Johnson. He has been featured in Garden & Gun, Bon Appétit, Forbes, and on CBS Sunday Morning. As Middleton puts it: "Sweetgrass baskets aren't the only thing made in Charleston."

Noah Culver is a Los Angeles based creative producer and storyteller with more than 15 years of experience in film, television, commercial production, and branded content. Originally from Georgia, his curiosity for the outdoors led him west to California  in 2011, where he found work as a wilderness guide and developed a lasting connection to the landscapes, people, and culture of the Mountain West. Becoming, in his words, an “adopted son of the Mountain West.” That experience continues to shape his approach to storytelling, bringing together documentary filmmaking, creative direction, and production to create authentic stories for brands in the outdoor, lifestyle, and adventure space. Through Lost Coyote, he works with brands and individuals to tell stories that feel less like advertising and more like an honest reflection of the things worth making, using, and experiencing.

Giving back is part of the Messermeister DNA. We believe great knives can do more than make great food—they can create real impact. From one-of-a-kind knife auctions and benefit sales to our Forge Initiative, product donations and partnerships with chefs and organizations we believe in, we’re always looking for creative ways to turn what we make into something bigger. Since 2021, we’ve donated more than $120,000 to charitable causes, supporting organizations like World Central Kitchen, Southern Smoke Foundation, The LEE Initiative and Careers Through Culinary Arts, while raising funds for communities impacted by disasters in Hawaii, Southern California and beyond. We’ve also provided more than $210,000 in Military & Service Discounts to military families, first responders and teachers. For us, it’s simple: make great things, work with great people and give back along the way.