The Story Behind L’Aubergine
The Story Behind L’Aubergine
Every memorable meal starts with a story.
Mine began in my grandmother Margareta’s kitchen in Brașov, Romania. As a child, I spent countless hours watching her cook with patience, simplicity, and respect for every ingredient. She never followed complicated recipes; she relied on fresh produce, intuition, and years of experience. Without realizing it, those moments shaped the way I cook today.
Years later, I moved to the Netherlands, where my passion for food became my profession. Working in professional kitchens for more than twenty years taught me discipline, consistency, and the importance of delivering quality under pressure. It also showed me something else: great food doesn’t have to be complicated—it simply has to be honest.
That philosophy became the foundation of L’Aubergine – Healthy Food Machine.
From Passion to a Food Truck
In 2015, I decided to create something different.
Instead of opening a traditional restaurant, I wanted to bring restaurant-quality food directly to people. A food truck gave me the freedom to cook fresh, meet guests face to face, and create memorable experiences wherever people gather.
L’Aubergine has never been just about serving food.
It has always been about bringing people together.
Whether it’s colleagues enjoying lunch outside the office, friends celebrating a birthday, families gathering for a wedding, or thousands of visitors at a festival, I believe great food creates moments people remember long after the event has ended.
Inspired by the Mediterranean and the Middle East
Throughout my career I had the privilege of working alongside talented chefs from different culinary backgrounds. Their knowledge, together with my own passion for fresh ingredients, inspired me to create a menu that combines Mediterranean simplicity with the rich flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Today that inspiration can be found in everything we serve.
Fresh falafel.
Our signature smoky babaganoush.
Handmade cheese croquettes.
Halal chicken wraps.
Seasonal ingredients.
Simple recipes prepared with care.
For me, quality starts with ingredients. Fresh products, careful preparation and honest flavours will always be more important than complicated recipes.
Growing Together with Our Clients
Over the years, L’Aubergine has grown from a single food truck into a trusted catering partner for companies, festivals and private events throughout the Netherlands.
We are proud to have catered for organisations including Nike, Tesla, Adyen, Tony’s Chocolonely, TotalEnergies, TomTom, Siemens and many other companies looking for fresh, reliable and professional catering.
Our team has also served guests at some of the country’s best-known festivals and events, including Rollende Keukens, SAIL Amsterdam, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and international technology conferences.
Every event—whether serving fifty guests or well over a thousand—has helped us improve, grow and refine the experience we offer.
More Than Just Catering
For me, cooking has never been only about recipes.
It is about hospitality.
Listening carefully to every client.
Understanding the purpose of each event.
Finding practical solutions.
Creating an experience that feels personal.
Every corporate lunch, festival, wedding, birthday celebration and private event is different, and every client deserves an approach that fits their occasion perfectly.
Looking Ahead
Although L’Aubergine continues to grow, the values behind the company have never changed.
Fresh ingredients.
Honest food.
Warm hospitality.
Personal service.
Creating memorable moments around every meal.
Whether you are planning a corporate event, a festival, a wedding or a private celebration, I hope to welcome you soon and share our passion for great food with you and your guests.
About Leonard V
Leonard Voicu is the founder of L’Aubergine – Healthy Food Machine.
With more than twenty years of culinary experience in the Netherlands, he has built a catering company recognised for fresh Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fusion cuisine, serving corporate events, festivals, weddings and private celebrations across the country.