December 3, 2021 - July 5, 2022)

Philadelphia culinary and fiber artist Kiki Aranita has been described by restaurant critic Craig LaBan as “a classics scholar-turned-food trucker and chef dedicated to sharing Hawaiian flavors, has long been one of the more fascinating figures in Philly’s food scene.” Then came COVID-19 that caused her restaurant Poi Dog to close. Like many creatives, Aranita reinvented herself and launched a retail Poi Dog hot sauce business and simultaneously embarked on her one-of-a-kind yarn re-creations of snacks, sauces, and tins.  

Aranita said that “the turmoil of losing her restaurant and the isolation from her many friends was traumatic. Those feelings found an outlet through my crochet art…” She says that the sauces and yarn art are “entwined…both endeavors are so new that I haven’t had the time to devise long-term goals for either…But one thing that running a restaurant has taught me…is that opportunities come when I take next steps.”  

Visit kikiaranita.com