The Washington DC Trip, May 14-18, 2026- Part 3 of 3

This is part 3 of 3 in my Series regarding My trip Back to Washington DC, last May 14-18, 2026. These were two The Dinner Parties, that Friends and Relatives Hosted, celebrating Carenna's GWU graduation as well as her 23rd birthday. 

https://www.grievingthruglee.com/blog/2026/5/16/a-toast-to-my-daughter?fbclid=IwY2xjawR5y_dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehgLwKuBUjOEYVrqaQGRQqKRRhM8N3-8bKnVI7RPx5jwSv9gjVLtwiJQOjHc_aem_LEe9uWhHbmrx_Lnhv_nzPw

The first dinner is about the Kamayan Fiesta at Purple Patch Restaurant,   https://www.purplepatchdc.com/about) in DC. This was  hosted by Ella Lazarte, Ditas first cousin.  Thank You, Ella for the Treat and Super Abundance of Filipino Dishes.    

It featured a Boodle Fight 💚 Presenting 19 dishes, 4 sauces, two drinks and one dessert(see photo above). There was a printed framed congratulatory card and printed menu.  The Food was designed not to be finished but to take home to enjoy more leisurely.  

This feast reminded of the Chinese Banquet -the Lauriat in the Philippines.  For modern, large-scale celebrations like weddings or holidays, the most common term used is simply a Chinese Banquet (or Jiuxi). Traditional modern banquets feature 8 to 12 courses designed to symbolize luck, wealth, and prosperity. 

The second Dinner was hosted by Irene Bueno and attended by Susan Berstein both Ditas friend at Matt and Tony Kitchen and Bar at Alexandria, Virginia(see photos above) https://www.mattandtonysva.com/.  Thank You Irene for giving us the ride to the restaurant and the dinner. It was nice meeting you, Susan.  

This restaurant was near the condo where Ditas resided when she was still working for the Bureau of Census during the Biden Presidency. 

Before our dinner with Irene and Susan, we visited Ella and Kevin in their residence in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of DC. We taught them how to play Mahjong. Ditas and Carenna got to eat the leftovers from our Kamayan Feast. I took photos at Ella's house as follows:

The Capiz Round Chandelier attracted my attention as well as the purple Orchid 

Speaking of Ella. She and Kevin are Carenna's second Parents in DC. Ella just got a new job in her chosen field ( Water Sanitation) as CEO, an anomaly of the current situation of job opportunities in the DC area.  Thank You Kevin and Ella for your hospitality. Here's Ella's short bio:     

https://www.resilientwateraccelerator.org/ella-lazarte

Here are some photos of our Kamayan Feast, where used our hands to eat without the aid of a pork, knife or spoon.     

Four Kinds of Sauces: Spicy vinegar, Spicy soy sauce, banana ketchup and Mang Tomas (liver sauce) for the lechon Kawali.    

There was enough food for 20 Diners      

All the UBE (purple yam) Cake and Pastries to your Heart Desire in this Restaurant 

Host Ella Lazarte-Ditas First Cousin 

Dishes are lined before it's spread into the banana leaves in the long Table. 

Finger bowl to wash before eating and warmed towel to clean after eating 

Framed List of Dishes in the Menu and Congratulatory Greetings to Carenna    

Ditas and Apartment Mate and co-graduate, Renee from Chicago, Illinois 

💚A boodle fight is a traditional Filipino communal feast where heaping mounds of

 food are spread out over long tables lined with banana leaves, and everyone eats 

together shoulder-to-shoulder with their bare hands (a practice known as kamayan). 

Key Characteristics

• No Utensils: Traditional boodle fights strictly forbid spoons, forks, or plates. You use your hands to grab and eat the food.
• The Setup: A long table is layered with fresh banana leaves, which act as a natural, eco-friendly tablecloth and serving platter.
• The Spread: Food is piled generously down the center. A classic spread includes mountains of steamed rice, grilled meats (like pork belly and chicken), seafood (like grilled squid, shrimp, and fish), fresh vegetables, and tropical fruits
  .
   

Origins and Meaning

• Military Roots: The practice originated in the Philippine military (often linked to
•  the Philippine Military Academy). It was designed to promote camaraderie, brotherhood, and equality. Regardless of military rank, everyone stood 
• shoulder-to-shoulder eating from the same pile.
• Why the "Fight"?: The term "boodle" typically refers to a collection of food or contraband sweets. The "fight" portion of the name is a playful nod to the 
• free-for-all nature of the meal—historically, hungry soldiers had to eat quickly 
• and grab their preferred portions before the food ran out.
• Modern Celebrations: Today, boodle fights are no longer just for the military. 
• They are highly popular for social gatherings, family reunions, birthdays, and fiestas as a fun, messy, and festive way to bond over great food. 

Lastly, here's information Purple Patch and Chef and Owner, Patrice Cleary

Purple Patch opened in 2015, one of the first Filipino Restaurants in Washington,

D.C., and has since become a destination for travelers near and far. Through the

years, Purple Patch has consistently been listed in the Washington Post’s Dining Guides, including top critic Tom Sietsema’s Favorite Restaurant in 2023. Other accolades include being named one of the top 9 Filipino restaurants in America

by TableLog, named #4 in Best Big 7’s Top 25 Best Filipino Restaurants in the

United States in 2020, and voted Best Filipino Restaurant in Washington City 

Paper’s Best of DC in 2023 and 2024.

Patrice Cleary is a dynamic restaurateur and chef, known for her innovative 

culinary ventures. Patrice is the chef/owner of Purple Patch, a culinary haven 

where Filipino flavors are celebrated through both classic and inventive dishes.

In March 2025, Purple Patch will mark 10 successful years, showcasing 

Patrice’s dedication to her craft and her ability to fuse tradition with innovation, 

which has earned her a loyal following and a respected place in the culinary community. She also owns Joia Burger, a popular spot known for its American 

Wagyu burgers, fries, and distinctive ube soft serve ice cream.

Purple Patch on Kamayan Feast (From their website)

Thank you for your interest in partaking in our Kamayan Feast! The traditional

festive meal, also known as a “Boodle Fight”💚, originated at the Philippine 

Military Academy, where it symbolized camaraderie, brotherhood and equality,

as everyone, all ranks, shared this meal together.

“Kamayan” simply means to eat with your hands, and while not mandatory, 

it is certainly encouraged! Your meal will be served on banana leaves and 

includes 15 different dishes selected by Chef Patrice Cleary atop a bed of 

jasmine rice, and ends with Halo Halo, our famous Filipino dessert. 

Also included are one cocktail and one non-alcoholic beverage. When

your meal is finished we provide you with warm towels to wipe your hands 

and to-go containers as we encourage you to take everything home with you 

that you have not finished.

These special dinners are done by reservation request only. This dinner 

is exclusive to your party and will take place in our private event space.

The price per person is $125, (not including tax and 20% service charge💚).

💚Today's Price is $150 per person.

Personal Note on this 3-Part Series:

Returning to Washington DC last week reminded me of my twelve happy and 

productive years of my professional life as discussed in the following article:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2014/06/autobiography-update-chapter-11-fda.html