A Washington restaurant is carrying on a very messy tradition started in Spain.
Ripple, on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, held its re-creation of the La Tomatina Festival Wednesday night. The festival is held every year in Valencia on the last Wednesday in August.
Ripple's version includes a tomato fight, a five-course meal featuring tomatoes grown in Northern Neck and Culpeper, Va., a screening of the feature-length cult film "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" and plenty of tomato cocktails and tomato beer.
Executive Chef Logan Cox said the event is a good way to show off the local tomatoes the region offers.
Guests paid $65 for the food and the fun.