The restaurant business is notoriously difficult. Surviving pancreatic cancer? Also challenging. Manny Pasillas has made a living as a restaurateur and is thriving after recovering from a two-year bout with pancreatic cancer. Now Manny and younger brother Carlos are on to their next culinary adventure: Pasillas Catering.

Manny, his son Donovan and Manny’s brother Carlos currently run Azteca Mexican Grill on Powell Rd. The brothers operate Pasillas Catering out of the same kitchen. The dual venture sounds like a huge undertaking, but it’s a labor of love for a pair of distinguished food service professionals. 

Manny got his start at TGI Fridays when the bar and grill was a national go-to spot in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He went from busing tables to cooking to opening franchises around the country. “I would teach the kitchen staff how to make everything,” says Manny. He did the same for other bigtime chains, such as Chi-Chi’s and Hard Rock Café. 

Carlos literally followed in Manny’s footsteps. “I started out washing dishes at Friday’s,” he recalls. Carlos gravitated toward fine dining, working at blue-ribbon steakhouse Morton’s of Chicago among other places. “I learned how to be a sous chef then an executive chef,” he says. 

Carlos eventually rose to the rank of regional chef for Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a nationwide operator of niche restaurants including the Boat House at Confluence Park and the now defunct 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant near John Glenn International Airport. 

Having made their mark around the country, Manny and Carlos now are content to focus on their family business. “When you work for a large corporation, sometimes you feel like a number,” says Manny. At Azteca, “This is your family dollar,” he says. “Every time the door opens, there is an opportunity to do a great job for someone.”

Pasillas Catering is another way for the brothers to share their decades of experience and love of the industry with others. Originally conceived over 2 years ago, the venture was put on hold while Manny regained his health. Now recovered—and with Carlos by his side to help run the operation—Manny is excited to have Pasillas Catering running again.

Even though it’s a new venture, it’s nothing Manny and Carlos haven’t done before. Carlos has operated food trucks, and Manny learned the catering business years ago during a stint in Palm Springs. “As long as you’re organized, everything is OK,” says Manny. 

There are aspects of catering that are easier than running a restaurant. “You can cook for 100, 250, 500 people at once,” says Carlos. That’s a lot less complicated than cooking for that number of people a la carte. “Catered food is fresher, too,” Carlos adds, because the food being prepared was ordered specifically for that event.

Pasillas Catering offers continental breakfasts, box lunches, appetizers and lunch and dinner buffets. With their combined decades of experience, Manny and Carlos can satisfy any palate. French, Italian, Mexican, Indian or American cuisine? No problem. “Whatever people want, we can work with them,” says Manny. 

If you are planning an event and need a caterer, there is no substitute for experience and passion. “You have to love what you’re doing,” says Manny.  

In the mood for brunch with your family?  You may want to check out one of their favorite events at Azteca Grill.  Their Sunday Brunch is offered from 10am-2pm and offers a variety of American, Mexican and family favorites.  Kids 10 and under eat free all day with a paying adult. 

The Pasillas Family knows that running a successful restaurant and catering service is hard work, but with their love for the business and their customers, Manny, Carlos and Donovan make it look easy.