By Becky Cooper

Ischia: Capri's forgotten sibling, the Cinderella of the islands off the coast of Naples, long lay quiet in the Tyrrhenian Sea, home to therapeutic thermal springs and sunbathing Italians. But now, thanks to Elena Ferrante, the author and patron saint of many a contemporary bibliophile, Ischia conjures mythic promises of rejuvenation. "I felt better and better, I couldn't believe that life could be like this," Ferrante's main character exclaims, at the beginning of her summer in the Ischian town of Barano.

As of April, Brooklyn has a Barano of its own, from the former Rubirosa chef Albert Di Meglio, who conceived of the new restaurant as an homage to his grandmother's birthplace. It's a rewarding experience, as long as you're aware that Barano the restaurant is roughly as reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town as is Peter Luger, up the street.

Read more

Source: http://www.newyorker.com/