Oxford Hot Dog Champ Is My Cousin

When you see a headline like, Oxford Hot Dog Champ Is My Cousin, you may say, he's related to the famous hot dog eating champ, Joey Chestnut, (pictured) winner of the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest?

NO, I am not. My cousin from Oxford, is maybe the most famous number TWO, in the competitive world of hot dog eating.

Sometimes, being number two can win you almost as much fame as being number one. For example, we all have heard of the Pepsi Halftime Show at the Super Bowl. There is never a Coke Halftime Show. But sometimes, not. Does anyone remember the SECOND person to land on the moon? It was Buzz Aldrin. But it wasn't Buzz who said the famous words, "One step for man, one GIANT leap for mankind." It was of course Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, July 20, 1969.

But being number two can be almost as important as being number one. You can't buy a delicious flame broiled whopper at McDonald's. There is no one more famous than our pal, former WBZ-TV news anchor Jack Williams. As beloved as Jack is, the 11pm WBZ-TV News, is always rated at #2, sometimes, #3.

Meet my cousin, Oxford's Geoffrey Esper. I am related to Geoffrey, as he is my sister in law's nephew. If you didn't know, July 4, Geoffrey travels to Coney Island New York for the Nathans Hot Dog contest to compete against the perennial NUMBER one hot dog eating champ, Joey Chestnut. This year, Esper downed 51 dogs in 10 minutes, taking the #2 spot for the third year in a row. But, Esper is no stranger to "disciplined eating."

The Worcester Telegram and Gazette writes:

A truly multi-disciplinary eater, Esper holds the 2017 and 2019 Hooters wing-eating championship, the Fortune Bay Indian Taco and the Jack's Donuts Donut Holes championships. In June, Esper downed 21 pounds of strawberry shortcake in eight minutes to take his third title in the Mattituck Strawberry Shortcake-Eating Contest.

Not bad for this Bay Path teacher who holds a masters degree in physics from Clark University. Geoffrey got into competitive eating after suffering injuries as a powerlifter. Now, he clean and jerks hot dogs, and loves it. I always knew competitive eating would somehow enter my life, in some way.

Meet my cousin, Oxford hot dog champ, my cousin, Geoffrey Esper. Geoffrey, you are number one to us!

From the people that brought you Massachusetts Top Clam Shacks, comes Rhode Island's Best Clam Shacks! Are you into bellies or strips? I can taste the homemade tartar sauce right now.

The ocean state has a variety of amazing seafood opportunities. Do you want large scale, sit-down family dining?  Or how about right off the beach, or pull-over clam shack style, eat-in-the-car joints? Little Rhody has em all.

Hitting the favorite family clam shack was the extra prize, after a day at the beach. Growing up, Dad would take us to one of my favorites, a place called Georges of Galilee. It is right off of Salty Brine Beach. Georges provides delicious seafood, sit down, or outside at the stand, with the marina backdrop of beautiful Galilee Rhode Island. After your fried clams, lobster roll, or clam fritters, we'd top it off with an ice cream cone right across the street at Champlin's Seafood Deck.  Then, a ride home of bliss full sleep in the back seat took the edge off the hour, forty five minute ride.

One of my favorite local restaurant chains in Rhode Island, is the famous Chelos. It's family owned, serving happy seafood eaters in Rhode Island for over forty years. If you love clam cakes (deep fried clams, with a dough batter, formed into fried balls of heaven) Chelo's is second to none.

So, with Summer in full gear, let's head south to find Rhode Island's BEST Clam Shacks.

It's also one of the few spots still serving the traditional Rhode Island shore dinner, a set meal that begins with a bowl of clam chowder, clam cakes, and steamers, followed by fried local flounder served with fries and slaw. If that isn't enough, there's an option to add a pound of fresh lobster, which, at this point, you might as well. Shore dinners are not meant for humble eaters.

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/695331/rhode-island-clam-shacks-quahogs/

Just saying the name Scarborough Beach takes me back. Aunt Carries according to Tasting Table:

It's also one of the few spots still serving the traditional Rhode Island shore dinner, a set meal that begins with a bowl of clam chowder, clam cakes, and steamers, followed by fried local flounder served with fries and slaw. If that isn't enough, there's an option to add a pound of fresh lobster, which, at this point, you might as well. Shore dinners are not meant for humble eaters.

This is one of my favorite Summer memories. We'd spend a day at Salty Brine Beach. After the fun of the beautiful Rhode Island shoreline, we'd walk up to Georges for some delicious clam cakes, or clams! Plus, if you're a boat person, the view off Georges is spectacular!

Right across the street from Georges, is another famous place called Champlin's Seafood Deck. Your lobster, clams, or haddock was probably caught an hour before you arrived. The view outside is as almost as tasty as your food! They have been at it for 69 years.

NOW, we're talking. With the word, drive-in you got my attention! Food Network's Chris Cosentino named the fried clam roll the best thing he's ever eaten.

According to Tasting Table: Even after weathering several hurricanes since its opening in 1936, Flo's Clam Shack Drive-In is genuinely keeping the shack in clam shack. The original drive-in location is little more than a shingled shed in Portsmouth's seaside Island Park neighborhood. What it lacks in the way of seating, it makes up for with location — customers can cross the street with their take-out boxes full of fried clam strips, scallops, or calamari; climb over the seawall onto a narrow strip of beach overlooking the waters of the Sakonnet River; and dig in. For an even more impressive waterfront view, drive south across Aquidneck Island where Middletown meets Newport. There, Flo's second, larger location offers two stories of seating, lots of nautical kitsch, and a veranda that overlooks Easton's Beach (or First Beach, as we locals call it)

Iggy's is also known for their scrumptious doughboy. I'll turn the other cheek, if you don't want clams. Buy a doughboy for me!

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f course we can't forget Newport! According to Discover Newport:

Named the best cheap eats in RI by Travel & Leisure, Blount Clam Shack's menu may lack dollar signs, but nothing else. The award-winning, waterfront seafood shack opened back in 1943 and has since been serving up seafood favorites with a twist, like clambake chowder crafted with all the best parts of a clambake in a delicious soup; or their giant lobster roll made with 1/2 lb. lobster chunks. Not to mention, the quaint shack is located right on Warren's scenic waterfront.

According to Discover Newport, Evelyn's Drive In is a 40 year mainstay with amazing clam shack style food in Tiverton. Also, they have a BIO BUG:

Keep an eye out for Evelyn’s BIOBUG, a diesel VW Bug powered by clam cakes and Newport Biodiesel. Newport Biodiesel picks up the used fry oil produced by Evelyn's fried offerings, processes it, and then fills the BIOBUG with biodiesel. In 2010, Evelyn’s recycled 27,000 lbs of fry oil!

The lobster chow mein sounds interesting!

If you're near the Charlestown part of Rhode Island, no doubt you know about the famous Monahan's. The website pictures make me want to eat this laptop. The Maui Coconut Shrimp starter looks amazing, almost as nice as the waterview.

While this is a clam based story, Benny's also features the famous New York System Wieners, the kind you can only find in Rhode Island.

While not a traditional clam shack, family owned Chelo's is a Rhode Island institution.  Serving amazing food for well over 40 years, Chelo's NEVER disappoints. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there, at the Warwick Chelo's on the water. I have been eating there since 1979, and have NEVER had a bad meal. In fact, it's still better than ever! The seafood is as fresh and delicious as any Rhode Island seafood restaurant. In the summer months, they have a banana cream, strawberry, blueberry pie that is the dessert that tops all desserts! In fact ALL of their desserts are amazing. The clam cakes are to die for, and the view is wonderful. The outdoor seating overlooks Masthead Marina and features live entertainment.