Vegan brisket sandwiches, apple pie cake? Food truck owners opening new KC restaurant

It’s mid-morning at this business incubator just off Truman Road.

Their commercial kitchen area is small, but sisters India Pernell and Arvelisha Woods are so synchronized they smoothly flow through prep, cooking and packaging steps, putting together freshly made orders for their customers, who text when they arrive at the circle drive in front.

To gospel songs such as “Spirit Move, they whip up Mattie Toasters with vegan bacon, sausage or both, Buffalo Mac with jackfruit or seitan, nachos, cinnamon rolls, apple pie cake, and vegan brisket sandwiches with sides such as macaroni, baked beans or cabbage.

Their black shirts have sayings such as: “Don’t ask us why we are vegan. ... Ask yourself why you are not!”

After starting Mattie’s Vegan Eats as a food truck in 2019, they have been surviving the pandemic with a to-go operation from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays at the Ennovation Center, 201 N. Forest Ave., Independence.

But in early September, they plan to open Mattie’s Foods at 633 E. 63rd St., Suite 110, in the former Canihaveabite space. (Canihaveabite relocated to the Country Club Plaza area.)

Their slogan: comfort food made smart.

Mattie’s is named after their grandmother, a Kansas City, Kansas, educator who taught them to cook.

After the sisters went on a 40-day fast five years ago, eating only vegetables and fruit, they decided to keep going. Under a vegetarian diet, their energy level spiked, their skin cleared and they rarely get sick, they said.

Just two weeks later Woods’ husband, Jason, decided to become a vegan, and they joined him.

They have been creating vegan recipes ever since. They also sell Mattie’s Vegan Queso Sauce in Nature’s Own Health Market.

This story was originally published August 22, 2020 at 5:00 AM.