An ode to Cook Out's Watermelon milkshake

Zach here with a PSA. It's July 1, which means the return of one of North Carolina’s greatest creations: Cook Out's watermelon milkshake (roughly $2.79.)

Now, I might be biased (I once interned at Cook Out and it's headquartered in my hometown of Thomasville), but its return is one of my favorite days of the year.

• Some of you might think the idea of mixing chunks of watermelon into a vanilla milkshake is wrong — and it might be. It's easily one of their most polarizing flavors and gets a criminally low 11 out of 17 rating on cookoutmilkshakereviews.com.
• But I haven't found a more refreshing dessert for a hot-and-muggy, summer evening in the Old North State.

Yes, but: Unfortunately, the watermelon milkshake only comes around once a year, during July and August. Though, perhaps eating one in February would ruin it for me forever.

My order: BBQ Sandwich tray, double fries (with Cajun seasoning) and a watermelon milkshake.