'Nothing more North Carolina than Cookout': Biden orders milkshakes at Cook Out, inspiring an explosion of support from fans of the regional chain with a cult following

• Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden visited a Cook Out in Durham, North Carolina on Sunday.

• Biden ordered two shakes — one vanilla and one chocolate— and said he planned to create a black-and-white shake, rather than select from one of the dozens of flavors on the regional chain's menu.

• The visit sparked an explosive response on social media, especially from North Carolinian fans of Cook Out.

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Joe Biden is hoping to win over North Carolinians with a trip to regional fast-food chain Cook Out.

On Sunday, Vice President Biden and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden stopped by a Durham, North Carolina Cook Out location to pick up some milkshakes. Biden has been campaigning in the battleground state, with a drive-in rally earlier on Sunday at Riverside High School.

A reporter on the scene asked Biden what milkshake he ordered. It was a significant question, as Cook Out offers more than 40 different milkshake flavors, including Cherry Cheesecake, Heath Toffee, and Fresh Peanut Butter.

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Biden ordered two shakes — one chocolate and one vanilla — and said he planned to combine the two to make a black-and-white shake.

The event sparked an explosive response on social media, especially from North Carolinian fans of Cook Out.

This particular Cook Out — located on Hillsborough Road, a short drive from Duke University's campus and surrounded by other fast-food joints — is a local favorite.

Cook Out inspires fierce loyalty among many customers in North Carolina and other parts of the South thanks to its milkshakes, as well as its budget-friendly options.

"Cook Out has a leg up on the competition thanks to the inclusion of Southern fast-food classics on the menu — and, of course, the more than 40 flavors of milkshakes," Business Insider taste testers reported. 

Cook Out did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the visit. Back in 2016, the chain faced boycott threats when an employee at a Colonial Heights, Virginia refused to serve customers wearing Trump gear. The worker was fired for "rudeness," Cook Out said in a statement at the time.  

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