Gillian and her son at the festive opening of the Marzipan Museum.

Gillian, who made aliyah from London in 1974, started making cake decorations in her Herzliya home more than 15 years ago. After the stint as owner of a factory called Kishotei Pele (Marvel Decorations) which produced cake decorations, Gillian and her husband now run the Marzipan Museum in Kfar Tavor. Why Kfar Tavor? "Surrounding the village are 1200 dunam of almond trees, constituting the largest agricultural income of this veteran farming community." And what is marzipan made of? You got it - almonds. The community quickly bought Gillian"s idea to open a Marzipan Museum as part of the community history museum, Hatzerot HaIkarim , in the center of town.

At the museum, Gillian's team tells the story of the 'almond's journey' from the tree to the cake . "There are explanations, pictures, displays of marzipan products, and of course a chance to make marzipan on the spot."

Visitors who happen by, can try their hand at molding a chunk of marzipan. And for the artisitically inclined, there are organized workshops. "These are more serious affairs where students can use our molds of fruits animals and flowers and we guide them through the process." In addition, of course, one can buy Gillian's sumptious marzipan creatures which are on display.