Elche has its own culinary identity that goes beyond the usual Valencian rice dishes. The signature local dish is arroz con costra — a baked rice topped with a crust of beaten egg, cooked in the oven until the surface is golden and puffed. It is unique to Elche and the surrounding area, and the city takes it seriously. Fresh dates from the Palmeral are eaten as a snack and used in local pastries, and the wines from the nearby Alicante DO — particularly the dark Monastrell reds — go well with the local food.