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.
Famous Number Twos
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.
So Who Is This Famous Number Two?
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!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 04: Geoffrey Esper competes in the 2023 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island on July 04, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The annual contest, which began in 1972, draws thousands of spectators to Nathan’s Famous located on Surf Avenue. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Rhode Island's Best Clam Shacks
Aunt Carries-Scarborough Beach
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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.
Georges Of Galilee
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images for Richard Mille)
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!
Champlin's Seafood Deck-Galilee
(Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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.
Flo's Clam Shack Drive-In-Portsmouth-Middletown
Stock Photo/Getty
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 Doughboys & Chowder House-Point Judith or Warwick
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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!
Blount Clam Shack-Newport
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O
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.
Evelyn's Drive-In-Tiverton
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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!
Monahan's By The Sea-Narragansett-Charlestown
JayBeau Jones
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.
Benny's Clam Shack-South Kingstown-Narragansett
JayBeau Jones
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.
Chelos
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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.
