Abigail Klein Leichman
May 19, 2016

Israeli chocolatier Gilat Orkin of Tel Mond has earned another title: pita artist.

Trying to tempt her first-grader to actually eat the sandwiches Orkin packed for school lunch each day, she began fashioning the pita bread – along with bits of cheese, halva, chickpeas, chocolate and vegetables — into edible portraits of politicians and pop stars.

Self-portrait of the artist in pitta. Photo via instagify.com
Self-portrait of the artist in pita. Photo via instagify.com

The photos of her creations proved so popular that Orkin established a brand, Year of the Sandwich. She and her daughter have been appearing in Israeli newspapers and TV talk shows.

Year of the Sandwich creation by GilatOrkin via photollow.com
Year of the Sandwich creation by Gilat Orkin via photollow.com

A collection of Year of the Sandwich photos, curated by Karen Shpilsher and Guy Morag Tzepelewitz, is displayed along Dov Hoz Street in Holon until August 31.

“I realize that when an object looks interesting to children, they will be curious about it,” Orkin said. “I had the idea to combine the desire to eat with the desire to learn something about the world at large.”

GilatOrkin Wolf’s takeoff on the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Photo via photollow.com
Gilat Orkin’s takeoff on the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Photo via photollow.com
Year of the Sandwich meets The Godfather. Photo via liveinstagram.com
Year of the Sandwich meets The Godfather. Photo via liveinstagram.com

Orkin fashions the bread and fillings into recognizable, whimsical portraits of celebs including Benjamin Netanyahu, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Ghandi, Elvis, George Harrison, Lady Gaga, Menashe Kadishman, Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Malcolm X, Arik Einstein, Shoshana Damari, and many other Israeli and universal icons.

She posts a daily food portrait on her Instagram account.