About Me

Founder of Joy Thru Food

Hi, I’m Catherine and I have been passionate about food my whole life. When people ask me how I got in the food business, I reply, “I was born hungry!” And, of course I laugh and then they laugh!

I grew up in San Diego and with the Mexican border 17 miles from my house, I fell in love with the food, the people and the culture of Mexico! But in 1993, I had a yearning to move to Napa Valley and be a part of the food and wine scene there that was about to explode.

By luck, I founded and ran a food manufacturing company for 15 years in the Napa Valley called Tulocay and Company. We ended up having product in five countries and all over the United States.

After that venture, I took a couple of years off, traveled in Mexico and came back to Napa Valley and opened up my dream of an innovative healthy taqueria, C CASA. That evolved into three locations and a full blown sit down restaurant serving delicious, nutritious Mexican food with a Napa Valley twist. Another venture for 15 years.

Now I am in Bend Oregon surrounded by the beauty of the Cascade Mountains and the running rapids of the Deschutes River. In thinking back about what I really loved most doing in the last 30 years and what I want to do next, I realized what makes my heart sing is feeding people and watching them light up with joy when eating delicious, nutritious food with an unexpected twist.

So, I bring you Joy Thru Food in a couple of ways. One way is having me as your private chef for brunch, lunch and dinners for 2 – 12 people in your home or a selected location with custom curated seasonal menus.

The other way is with my Nourish Program where fresh, nourishing soups by the quart will be available each week for pick up.

I’m excited about my next chapter to share Joy Thru Food with YOU!

Joyfully,
Catherine