[whistling] [funky music] - Get your food for the road.

Ha, ha, ha!

- Thank you, we'll see you next time.

It's been around for over 40 years.

We have a lot of people word of mouth that have learned about it over the years.

That's the biggest thing.

Because what we're known for are the chicken and taters.

Have a blessed day.

- [Teresa] And they've been called some of the best in the state by more than one news outlet.

- After we were on TV before, they came from Tennessee.

And I was just so surprised, you know.

And Charlotte.

- [Teresa] Some are fortunate to live close enough to visit whenever they want.

- Only about like 15 minutes we drive.

I come like, maybe weekly.

I love coming here.

It's probably the best chicken filets around here and you get tater wedges too.

You can get other sides, but known for their tater wedges.

- [Teresa] And that's where the debate begins.

- This is my version of the B&B shirts.

It says, are you a chicken or a tater?

The reason I have that is, again, that's why everybody comes to the store.

Because people will fight.

And that's the funniest thing that you ask people.

Are you a chicken or are you a tater?

- Hello, darling.

- I want three taters to go.

- Taters.

- Fried chicken.

- I have to say I'm a chicken.

I'm a chicken.

Because you have people that will come in and if you don't have taters out, they're upset.

And they'll wait for 'em.

You have the same thing with chicken.

So, the chicken and the taters are the staple.

- [Teresa] There are a couple of reasons for that.

- It's fresh, just made.

- Yeah, yeah, we cook all day long.

- [Teresa] And it's all about the breading they use on the chicken and taters.

- It's different than a flour based.

I'm not sure how to describe it.

- It's just got good flavor.

There's something about the flavor that separates it from everybody else's.

- [Teresa] Some might consider it unusual to find food like this in a convenience store.

- No.

A lot of gas stations have food nowadays.

- And most of your food stores have the turn hotdogs and the pizza and the flash frozen taters.

Not like these.

- [Teresa] That's because B&B's chicken and taters are absolutely, positively homemade.

- This comes in raw, clean.

- [Teresa] But freshness is only one part of the tasty equation.

- It's everything.

First of all, the product you get in.

You want to make sure that it's good and it's good quality.

It's what you do with it.

It's the breading.

Even how you lay the tenders to cook.

If you let it just be in a ball, it will seize up and cook that way.

So, it's a little bit of everything.

But the breading is the icing on the cake for the taters and chicken.

- [Teresa] How the bone-in chicken and taters are cooked also makes a difference.

- This is where the magic happens.

Everything's under a pressurized cook.

Over, sometimes, 400 degrees.

Around in that area.

- It's moist.

Juicy.

- [Teresa] The same attention to detail goes into the taters.

- I scrub around 200 pounds a day.

I cut at least 150 pounds a day or more.

- They're different.

They're not like everybody else's.

I don't know what it is.

I'm no cook or anything, but they got good taters.

It's not real spicy, it's just, they're kinda crispy.

I like, if I got a potato, I don't like a mushy potato.

I like a little crisp with the potatoes.

So this is good.

- [Teresa] B&B prepares other homemade foods like egg salad and dressings like 1000 Island and ranch.

And they rely on a time-tested recipe for their breading which hasn't changed.

- Not at all.

We use the same recipe as we've always used.

- Yeah, we have a lot of people that want the recipe and wanna buy the breading.

They call about it.

I've even had people look in the kitchen to try to sneak and see.

- [Teresa] And it's a secret they don't plan on giving away anytime soon.

- We can't tell ya, because we wouldn't let you be able to leave.

[funky music] [chicken clucking] - [Deborah] B&B Food Store is at 721 US Highway 70 SW in Hildebran.

That's just outside Hickory.

The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. And Saturday from 7:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. For more information give them a call at 828-397-5186.