About Cathy Bua

Do you believe in magic? Cathy Bua sure does. Hers has been an enchanting ride since 1975 when she opened Cathy’s Rum Cake Caterers out of her kitchen pantry. She never thought she would cater parties, for legends like Vincent Price; The Princess of Austria; A Presidential Candidate – John McCain and bake her whimsical, rum cakes for Robert Mitchum; Whitney Houston and Cher. The magic: – everyone Cathy who comes in contact with Cathy is a legend or celebrity to her, and that develops many wonderful fellowships. This is Cathy’s most endearing accomplishment

It all started in the early sixties when Cathy’s husband Tony was a Lieutenant in the Air Force.  A few times while on Parade March, Tony noticed Cathy parking the family car in the General’s space. Thinking that his wife would never breach such a strict protocol, Tony thought it must be someone else with the same model vehicle. It was soon confirmed that it was Cathy, as Tony tripped over himself on march seeing her socializing with the wives of Colonels and Generals. This was not the best moral booster for Tony’s flight squadron when Cathy is seen hobnobbing with the Senior Officers Spouses. Tony confronted Cathy on the rules of military fraternizing. But, the General’s wife had more pull than Tony, and Cathy was right back at it. Again, parking in the General’s spot, picking pecan pods on the ladder with the General’s wife for centerpieces, and generally having more of the run of the base than most colonels. What hurt Tony more, was being on a paltry military salary, and getting his hands slapped for picking at the Prime Rib, and finding out it’s wasn't for him, but for the Commander’s cocktail party. Tony could do nothing about it, except watch his non-commissioned wife being promoted before he did.

The day that Tony received his order for duty overseas, the General’s wife called her husband on the golf course and ordered that Cathy Bua was going nowhere – She was too important for the base.  Tony was to remain at Williams Air Field. Tony was frustrated, ready for combat duty, but became a top notch instructor. Sometimes you wonder, “Who’s really giving the orders". The magic was just starting.   

In the early and mid-seventies, Tony and Cathy were living in Chandler, Arizona raising two kids. Tony was now a pilot for TWA. And, Cathy never slowed down her catering and baking enterprise. Up and down the street Cathy had taken over the neighbor’s refrigerators and ovens. The next door neighbor bought an extra freezer to accommodate Cathy. Tony would come home to a mix of “I Love Lucy” and “Dinner Impossible” Culinary Chaos. And, his dinner was being served progressively later. Dinner to Tony is an almost a religious experience - he was wants it predictable and on time. Cathy was getting busier and Tony dinner was now pushed back to 11 pm. Tony caved in, and to make things easier on Cathy, so she wouldn’t spend hours retrieving food from the neighbors, Tony bought Cathy her business – Cathy’s Rum Cake and Caterers, Inc. There was a stipulation – now that Cathy had her business, dinner was to be ready by 5:30 every night when Tony was home. Even on her heavy Catering days she still up holds her end of the bargain to Tony, realizing his contribution and sacrifice to Cathy’s Rum Cake. The magic was now on the launch pad.

What about the Rum Cakes. Cathy in her pantry days from home was making lemon cakes. Her first customers were her neighbors – The Knox’s. The Knox’s were farmers and they told their friends in the farming community about their neighbor who makes these fabulous lemon custard cakes. People from Peoria, Avondale and Litchfield Park were pick up cakes in the middle of the night and waking up the roosters to collect their whipped cream confections. One of these customers asked Cathy; “Why don’t you make a Rum Cake?” Cathy thought about it and didn’t see the merit in making a rum cake, and replied, “Why should I. The client was persistent; “Why not?!". Cathy quickly mulled it over; “Yeah – why not!” Cathy made the gentleman a rum cake and stuck to that recipe ever since. Now, the magic was in orbit.

Cathy and Her Accolades

When Cathy was asked to list all her accolades, magazine articles and press releases over the span of 34 years, it was a daunting – and dangerous task. Daunting because there is so much material; Cathy has been blessed by a lot of great coverage. Dangerous, because, it’s too easy to rest on your laurels. It’s not so much what you were years ago, but what you are now and your commitment to quality and excellence for the future.

So in listing Cathy’s Accolades, we present a shortened version to thank all that have contribute to this wonderful experience, known as Cathy’s Rum Cake Catering. No self-aggrandizing here – just a big, warm hug and a thank you to everyone . . .