Montecristo

Montecristo is a small Italian islet located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. The island is remote and kept by the Italian government as a nature preserve and hunting park, and only accessible by private yacht and permit. There are no structures on the island, though the ruins of a 13th century monastery (destroyed by pirates in 1553) are visible.

The island is probably best-known as a fictional setting in Alexandre Dumas's novel The Count of Monte Cristo, but the actual island does not correspond closely to the description in the novel.

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A montecristo is also a kind of sandwich. Filled with ham, turkey, and cheese, the entire sandwich is dipped in an egg-batter (similar to the batter used in making french toast) and then fried. It is commonly served dusted with powdered sugar, garnished with fresh fruit, and with maple syrup on the side.