Food has always been how I take care of people.

I'm happiest when there is something good cooking in the kitchen and people I love gathered around the table. Cooking is how I welcome people, celebrate them, and make them feel cared for. It's something I've been doing for as long as I can remember and something I've always wanted to share.

I'm Kaileigh, the chef and curator behind Almond Moon.

My love of cooking started young. I grew up watching the Food Network, collecting cookbooks, and finding any excuse to be in the kitchen. At fifteen, I was thrilled to unwrap a KitchenAid mixer for Christmas, a pretty good indication of where my interests have always been.

Some of my earliest and favourite memories in the kitchen are with my Oma. Her food was simple, generous, and delicious, often with a very healthy amount of butter. There was always more than enough to go around, and somehow, there always seemed to be another plate to put on the table.

She taught me that good food doesn't need to be complicated. It just needs to be made with care, shared generously, and enjoyed together.

Almond Moon is named after my favourite cookies she makes, and it's a little piece of that feeling I hope to bring to every gathering.

A new chapter

I studied finance and economics at the University of Toronto, and spent my early career working as a financial advisor. Though I love getting into the numbers and seeing the tangible impact my work had on my client’s lives, I have always dreamed of having a creative outlet to share my love for food with the world, and bringing people togther to make memories.

When my husband and I decided to take a sabbatical to travel throughout Southeast Asia, I found myself with the space to slow down, explore, be inspired, and think more broadly about what I wanted to create in my life back home.

The fresh markets, vibrant flavours, and food culture, from the street-side stalls to Michelin-starred experieces, only deepened my love of cooking. Coming home, I knew I was ready to pursue my passions and create something that I can share.

And so, Almond Moon was born.

Around the table

I've spent years cooking and hosting for the people I love. For me, food is a love language: it's how I welcome people, celebrate them, and make them feel cared for.

Almond Moon brings that feeling to your home. I curate menus and tablescapes around the season, local ingredients, your tastes, and the feeling you want your gathering to have.

Whether you're planning an intimate dinner, a birthday, a holiday, a themed celebration, or simply an evening with people you love, I'll prepare and serve the meal in your home so you can be fully present with your guests.

My hope is to create the kind of meal that reminds you how joyful food can be, with something delicious on the table, plenty to pass around, and the people you love gathered close.

You bring the people.

I'll take care of the rest.

-Kaileigh van den Berg