After the unfortunate green sauce incident last Thursday night, Melanie and I decided to go in search of some less BLAZING, BURN-OFF-YOUR-TONGUE fare when we left the hotel for a late lunch on Friday. Since our buddy Travis grew up in North Carolina and is forever talking about Bojangle’s fried chicken – and since we don’t have Bojangle’s in our respective cities – we thought we’d give it a try.
We left our hotel and drove just a little ways down the road to the Bojangle’s. We were planning to eat inside, but before we got out of the car, I sensed a still, strong voice deep down in my heart: What if they don’t serve Coke products? I mean, I was craving a Diet Coke like nobody’s business, and quite frankly I was in no mood to settle for a Diet Pepsi. IT’S NOWHERE NEAR THE SAME. Melanie offered to swing by the drive-thru menu so that we could check out the Bojangle’s drink offerings, and sure enough, we saw a Pepsi logo.
You can imagine our disappointment. So we sent Travis a text to let him know about the SHOCKING Bojangle’s turn of events because THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
To wit, a transcript.
Me: Mel and I were about to eat lunch at Bojangle’s but we saw they serve Pepsi products. That’s a dealbreaker, ladies.
T: You r MAKING A MISTAKE.
And then, a few minutes later:
T: SNAP OUT OF IT AND RECEIVE A BLESSING.
But Melanie and I were stiff-necked. Prideful about the absence of Coke products. So do you know where we went for lunch instead?
On The Border.
Yes, that’s right: more Mexican food. It’s a sickness, y’all. We might as well wear signs around our neck that say, POINT US IN THE DIRECTION OF “CHEESE” BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THERE.
(By the way, I’m not even halfway finished with this post and I’ve already referenced “30 Rock” twice.)
(Mama here might need to turn off the TV for a month or nine.)
Anyway, we went to On The Border for lunch, and it was actually pretty tasty. Their Diet Coke was perfection (just the right fizz, plenty of syrup, nice ice-to-beverage ratio), and we had some sort of avocado-Ranch dip that was delicious. All in all it was a perfectly lovely chain restaurant experience. It didn’t have the same regional charm that Bojangle’s would have had, of course, but it DID have Coke products. And sometimes you just have to pick a restaurant based on your carbonated beverage principles.
Even still, thoughts of the fried chicken we hadn’t eaten haunted us. Travis’ words haunted us. WHAT IF WE HAD MISSED A BLESSING?
Early Saturday morning Mel and I decided that once all of our sessions were over that night, we’d pick up Bojangle’s in the drive-thru and make alternate beverage arrangements to alleviate the sting of the Pepsi. We COULD NOT WAIT to have us some hot chicken for supper. And when we ran into our conference roomie Annie later in the afternoon, we asked if she was interested in sharing All The Chicken with us. She was totally game.
By 6:30 the three of us were walking side by side out of the hotel and into the parking lot, striding confidently toward our fried chicken destiny. I felt sort of like an astronaut getting ready to board a space shuttle – only without the bulky suit and the heavy helmet. And without the space shuttle. And without, you know, space. So basically I guess I really felt like a girl who was walking out of a suburban Charlotte hotel to go get some fried chicken with her friends. But trust me: that whole space shuttle analogy would’ve been a ton of fun if I could’ve pulled it off.
Annie drove us down to the Bojangle’s, and while I don’t know what came over the three of us in that drive-thru, I do know that suddenly there was no amount of fried chicken and sides to satisfy our hunger. I’d sort of anticipated that we’d get a few 2-piece dinners and call it a day, but instead we ordered some sort of family tailgate pack that came with 12 pieces of chicken (THIS WAS FOR THREE PEOPLE, MIND YOU) and three sides. And biscuits.
While we were waiting on our tailgating feast, we felt it was only right and proper to bring the person who had inspired our meal up-to-speed. So we sent Travis another text: We are at the Bojangles getting our supper. And just as we pulled onto the main road and headed back to the hotel, we got a reply: Lord bless y’all. Be sure to get – along w/ your chicken, the fries and the boberry biscuit.
Now listen. We had twelve pieces of chicken with mashed potatoes, pinto beans and green beans. But no fries. No boberry biscuits. And while we had no idea what a boberry biscuit was, we knew that Travis wouldn’t lead us astray. So we turned around and went right back to that Bojangle’s and right back through that drive-thru and we ordered us some boberry biscuits, oh yes we did. And also: a couple of orders of fries.
Apparently we were operating under the assumption that we needed to be prepared in the event that four or five other people decided to stop by room 815 for an impromptu evening buffet.
Once we hauled all of our Bojangle’s fare back to our hotel room, we settled in and ATE US SOME CHICKEN. We loved it. I still prefer Popeye’s chicken to Bojangle’s because of the crust, but the texture of the actual chicken was really similar (can you tell I’ve given this some thought?). I loved the Cajun spices that gave the chicken a little bit of a kick but not too much heat. Big score on the pinto beans, too – and I’ve never met a mashed potato that I didn’t like.
However, I cannot speak to the green beans because I didn’t eat any. Obviously I exercised remarkable food-related restraint by not cluttering my very white and beige food choices with any of that pesky green.
And then. THEN. We opened THE BOBERRY BISCUITS.
Angels sang. Stars fell. Crowds cheered. Grown men wept.
Y’all. I had no idea that putting a glaze on a biscuit was an option. I had no idea that putting blueberries in a biscuit was an option. But I’ll tell you what: now that I know, there’s no turning back. Because in all my biscuit-eating days – and I confess to you in all humility that I am no stranger to some BISCUIT-EATING DAYS – I have never encountered a biscuit that so perfectly balanced the savory and the sweet. It was a revelation. It was a special biscuit provision.
It was a BoBerry Blessing.
And I will never be the same.
Amen.
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How funny! I’m sure with all of the classiness of walking (in slow motion-astronaut style- of course) out of that suburban Charlotte hotel to go get some fried chicken with your friends, it was way better than the movies! I also bet the celebratory dance after the boberry biscuits was equally unmatched! I love reading your blog! :)
Jennie (poster of the boBerry biscuit recipe) is evil and must be destroyed! There goes my diet (sadly waving goodbye…)
A masterpiece of bloggy good writing. Thank you!
Classic.
Well, I thought they couldn’t get better than the Raton one but you need to add this to the “classic” list because it truly is a “classic.”
The fries didn’t impress you? I love the spicy fries!
So glad that you didn’t miss out on the Boberry blessing. We have no On The Border, we have no Bojangles, but we have Popeye’s here and there. Girl, Popeye’s was gross. Maybe we got a bad batch, but that was last year’s Christmas park buffet meat choice by the Director himself. Yuckola. Where do I have room to talk? To celebrate my cholesterol testing today, I ate a Rodeo Burger, Onion rings with zesty sauce and a Strawberry Cheesecake from Burger King. Now if my digestive system will only cooperate with my choices. . .
I grew up in Bojangles land (South Carolina) and just moved away two years ago. EVERY single time I get off the airplane, my first stop is Bojangles! Boberry biscuits are from heaven! And the seasoned fries are fabulous!
Glad you got to share in some of our Southern joy!
I love that you made alternative beverage arrangements:-) My girls know that if it’s a pepsi restaurant instead of coke, Momma is going straight for the sweet tea and forgetting saving calories.
Just returned from Myrtle beach, and I’m sorry to say we discovered that most of S Carolina and North seemed to carry pepsi products… we gave this topic much conversation over the past week, so your post seems oh so timely to my life.
You crack me up. Seriously. Bojangles are all around here and it’s always been tradition to stop and get boberry and cinnamon biscuits for breakfast before going on a trip. Always as in when I was little and now with my little ones! Delicious. Sorry you missed out for so long. Glad you turned around.
mmmmm… thinking about dessert now… :o) Think I could convince my husband to run out to Bojangles?
I have been absent from the bloggy world. Today was my day back. This is the first post I have read and it reminded me why I miss my own daily blessing…a dose of BooMama. Thank you.
Charlotte, NC says, “You’re Welcome.” ;)
Oh, and one more thing. Down further East the Bojangle’s make a biscuit called a Cheddar-Bo, and yes, it’s a biscuit covered in melted cheddar cheese. I don’t know why they don’t do them in the CLT Bojangles, but anytime I’m down East I score one.
Thought you’d like to know that.
Ah, yes, the Boberry. Welcome to my addiction! And one of the many reasons my “freshman fifteen” has hung around for like a couple or 13 years. Love it!
With every story you just make me sicker and sicker I was not there with y’all.
You are so causing me to stumble.
…and now you see why my baby-in-utero is nicknamed “Bo.” :) He loves him some BoBerry biscuits!! (And a bacon, egg, & cheese biscuit if he’s causing me to have a salty craving) :) Glad you braved Pepsi-land and tried it out. ;)
Oh my word, you do not know the joy I got from reading this. I read it outloud to my Boberry loving husband. I love me some Bojangles. Cajun biscuit filet combo with fries and a lemonade would be my regular. And now I am hungry.
You make me laugh.
I feel the SAME as you about Pepsi products. We have spent 10 days in hawaii – the most beautiful place on earth – and I spent a great deal of time pouting because every restaurant served PEPSI instead of Coke. UGH! I avoid restaurants that serve pepsi too. I can start naming them off hand actually………… :-)
After hearing you speak at She Speaks, just had to let you know that girl, YOU ARE A HOOT! I couldn’t wait to check out your blog and there again, you’re making me crack up!
I also wanted to let you know that you are a FAB communicator…and I’m not just talking about writing,(which sister you certainly do have a gift), I’m talking about speaking too!
She Writes,
She Speaks,
and she makes me laugh!
GOD BLESS SISTER :-)
I L O V E Y O U B O O M A M A ! !
It just doesn’t get any better than this….
Great post!
Today’s post was wonderful! I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find the boberry biscuit. My husband has some of the greatest sayings and one of them is “I’m so hungry, if you put a biscuit on top of my head, my tongue’d slap my brains out.” Little did he know that there were boberry biscuits! I know he’d agree that you’d have to brush the angels away to get a bite! (another of his sayings)
That was one of THE funniest things I have ever read.
Ever.
And Pepsi is always a deal breaker. It’s almost like it’s unAmerican to not serve Coke products!
I would have totally crashed your party! I’m not big on Coke, but I need Dr. Pepper and frankly hate to leave the state of Texas because I know I can get it here!
we have a Bojangles just 2 miles from my house… right across the street from First Baptist Woodstock where Travis did his live taping earlier this year.
Just think, you were right across the street from those Boberry biscuits WITH Travis and Melanie and whoever else…
Alas, to be so close, and yet so far away at the same time :)
So glad you liked Bojangles!
(their chicken biscuits in the morning are pretty sassy as well).
(not sure if I’ve ever had Popeyes chicken… will have to try it sometime!)
I guess it must be because I live above the Mason-Dixon Line that I love Diet Pepsi. I admit it. Love it. I think that the song “Stomp on the Devil” is referring to Diet Coke.
To add to the confusion I live in the land of Steaks and the only fried chicken I’ve ever had is KFC. Let’s say it’s not something I would ever crave.
We don’t even have a Chick Fila in our neck of the woods.
Maybe we need a little blessing to come our way. However we’ll keep our Diet Pepsi thank you very much.
Interesting that you wrote such a thought-provoking post consisting largely of Coke/Pepsi comparisons. Today my husband and I had an equally thought-provoking conversation about various soda products. You see, I prefer Coke to Pepsi, but strangely prefer Diet Pepsi to Diet Coke. Diet Cherry Coke is the exception to the rule. I rank its yumminess right up there with Diet Dr. Pepper. Vanilla Coke, on the other hand, was just a mistake all around. (I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found a mate that shares my stunning intellect and capacity for scintillating conversation.)
Incidentally, we had this conversation while I was nursing my 4-week-old. Which makes me wonder if he feels like he’s nursing from a soda fountain.
This made me laugh out loud! I love Coke and cannot stand Pepsi. Every once in awhile I will settle, but not often. The drink selection does dictate which restaurant we choose sometimes!
I feel I must comment. Come on y’all give Pepsi some props. I will however just say, I am on the same level as you as far as my caffiene consumption. Though it MUST come from a Pepsi for me. Ya gotta have what ya gotta have. I only eat at about 3 different places because Coke has taken over here. It’s a travesty. (: enjoy your Coke, it leaves more Pepsi for me.
Welcome to NC! Love me some Bojangles dirty rice!!
Never been to Bojangles.
I’m sending you my mailing address, and I FULLY expect a BoBerry bisquit (yes, you heard me) in my mailbox come Sunday.
And, I thought the BoBerry was going to be some sort of tea that is special to Bojangles. The actual BoBerry looks even better than I imagine BoBerry tea tasting. There’s a Bojangles less than a mile from our new house in SC. I’ll be heading there today!
Oh BooMama! Your blog makes me smile! I am a North Carolinian and yes, we love our Bojangles! I was a bit disappointed that you did not comment on the fries. They are also sprinkled with the cajun seasoning and they are divine. Best part – they serve them at breakfast too!
Oh, BooMama. This Georgia girl is no stranger to goodness that can be found in a BoBerry Buscuit (you have to try the cinnamon version as well). Since we live in Germany, I have to live vicariously through the culinary experiences of others. Missin’ me some fried chicken, buscuits, and mexican fare of all sorts real bad. Love reading your blog and “hearing” that Southern twang that keeps me close to home.
Oh BooMama! I am so glad you discovered the joy that is the Bo! BoBerry Biscuits and Bojangles Fries are quite possibly the worlds most perfect food. I think everyone in the world should enjoy such a treat. Your post had me cheering!!
After not setting foot in a Bojangles for 15 years, for the past 9 months I consistently craved BoBerry biscuits while I was pregnant. Angels sang every time! Glad you discovered it, BooMama! But I agree – boo to Pepsi.
I fell right out of my chair when I saw those BoBerry Biscuits. There is a BoJangles RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, and I had no idea!
Long time reader, first time commenter – and of course it would be a post about Bojangles that would bring me out of lurkdom. Being a SC resident all my life, Bojangles is in my blood. I am so happy that you have finally experienced the happiness and the joy of the Boberry! AND – if that weren’t enough, they also make them in Cinnamon – and around Valentines, I’ve had them in Cherry. A culinary delight, indeed!!!
I have never laughed so hard in my life. And AMEN sister on the Diet Coke favoritism/ no Pepsi products. Thought I was the only one!
I feel the same way about coke products. I am not a happy girl when we enter a restaurant and see that Pepsi sign
So, what did you do for drinks with your Bojangles? I guess a coke from the vending machine?
Cold Coke in a can is my all time favorite, 2nd favorite is a Route 44 Coke from Sonic. I’ll even pay full price for it! Oh, and I drink the real coke….no diet for me! :)
Alabama only has Popeyes that I know of, but Wow…I’m gonna have to search out a Bojangles.
Even if they do carry Pepsi products…
Ohhhh my, those biscuits look like heaven on earth :)
I have never heard mention of the BoBerry biscuit, but I suspect we’d get along fabulously.
We live in Virginia and to my knowledge, we have no Bojangles. However, this fall when we drive to Florida to visit my Dad, we will definitely be stopping to check out the Boberry biscuits.
My mouth is watering looking at the picture, maybe I will try to make some myself! I’m sure one of the internets has posted a recipe for these little gems.
Now my kids think I have totally lost it because I am laughing so hard! LOVE THIS POST!!!! And I refuse to eat in a restuarant that doesn’t have Diet Coke or I take my own. I mean we live in the South where Diet Coke reigns and there is a difference, a big difference.
Still Laughing!!!
I have never responded to one of your posts before…..but today is the day. You made me laugh just when I needed it ~ thank you! You are a sweet blessing ~ a great combination of Godly inspiration, joy and knowledge of the important things in life ~ Coke and biscuits!
There is a Bojangles almost finished on 31 in Pelham near Valley Elementary School. I wasn’t too interested in it until I read your post. Now I think I might be in trouble!
Glad you have received the blessing of the Bo-Berry Biscuit. I love ‘em so much! They make my insides sing the Hallelujah Chorus everytime I eat them!
There is nothing better than Bojangle’s! I hate that you didn’t order Jumbo sweet teas to go with your supper though! If you happen to be in a Bo-ville come fall you can’t miss out on the iced apple cinnamon Bo biscuit…to die for!
Bojangles chicken and cheese biscuit w/fries and a coke (previously purchased at the Chik-fil-a drive thru). . . . that is what I’m talkin’ about. Went to college in Travis’ hometown and I am proud to say he and I must have eaten in the same Bojangles in Boone, NC. Woo Hoo.
Oh my…
“Snap out of it and receive a blessing” may become my new trademark phrase. Wonder if it’ll catch on up here in Michigan?
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