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Messermeister believes in giving back beyond the kitchen. Supporting non-profits has always been a core part of our identity. Over the years, we have partnered with various non-profit organizations. However, we wanted to establish partnerships that allow us to craft truly unique knives with our favorite chefs while making an even bigger impact.
April Bloomfield is a British-born, James Beard Award winning chef and was previously owner of some of New York City’s most legendary Michelin Star-rated restaurants. She looks forward to bringing her creativity and expertise to the partnership while supporting GreenWave, her charity of choice which trains and supports regenerative ocean farmers to create jobs and protect the planet, saying, “What a treat to be able to help create a knife with Messermeister which is both functional and elegant, and one that fits in your hand as an extension of yourself."
April's Knife will be made by artisans in Italy.
GreenWave works to replicate and scale regenerative ocean farming–a zero-input, polyculture seaweed and shellfish farming model that breathes life back into our oceans. GreenWave partners with coastal communities across North America to create a blue economy that ensures we can all make a living on a living planet. Founded in 2014, their programming includes farmer-forward training and support, climate subsidies, market development, and infrastructure.
Edward Lee is a Brooklyn-born and Louisville-based chef, James Beard Award-winning culinary author who frequently appears on TV in shows such as "Top Chef" "Iron Chef" and "MasterChef." His restaurants in Louisville and Washington DC tell the narrative of his Korean identity and Southern culinary roots. He is passionate about telling a unique story through his knife design, and giving back to his nonprofit, The LEE Initiative which strives to bring equality and diversity to the restaurant industry, for which he was awarded a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. “Knives are so personal,” says Lee. “A good knife is both practical and functional, not just beautiful. But the best knives also tell a story. I am excited to be working with Messermeister to do just that, while at the same time giving back to a cause that's essential to me.”
Edward's Knife will be made by artisans in Japan.
The LEE Initiative is an acronym for Let’s Empower Employment. When the LEE Initiative sees a need for more diversity, equality and compassion in the restaurant industry, they will find innovative and impactful solutions. They created programs that make a real difference in the lives of the next generation of restaurant industry professionals. Their help in their community inspires others to get involved.
Their programs include:
Women Culinary and Spirits Program
Restaurant Workers Relief Program
Restaurants Reboot Relief Program
McAtee Training & Community Kitchen
Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice
Maker's Mark CommUNITY Batch
Claudette Zepeda is a former James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalist best known for her fearless culinary style and bold approach to Mexican cuisine. Zepeda is eager to partner with a women-run knife company to help bring a female perspective to the table while supporting No Us Without You, a cause near and dear to her heart which helps to provide food security for undocumented restaurant workers and their families. “Femininity has been missing in the knife world,” she explains. “I was brought up in Mexico seeing the women in my country who were feeding their entire family and selling food at the mercados using these rudimentary bulky metal knives. Working with Messermeister gives me an opportunity to create a knife that can truly be a woman’s knife.”
Claudette's Knife will be made by artisans in Italy.
No Us Without You LA(501c3) provides food security for the undocumented immigrants who are the backbone of the hospitality industry in the greater Los Angeles area. These hard-working women and men who have, for years, fulfilled the unforgiving back of house restaurant positions, now find themselves in the vulnerable position of being unemployed, with little to no government assistance.
NOUSWYLA was founded in response to the COVID-19 shutdown of Los Angeles. The cofounders are hospitality consultants who grew frustrated at the lack of support for undocumented back of house hospitality staff, so they acted. These hospitality workers were unemployed and did not qualify for unemployment insurance benefits even though they pay into the system every paycheck.
Giving back has always been an important part of who we are as a company. We've worked with numerous non-profit organizations throughout the years, such as World Central Kitchen, but wanted to create partnerships in which we could create truly unique knives with some of our favorite chefs, while at the same time being truly purposeful to make an even greater impact.
Click the button below to learn more about how we give back!