Did you know that Dallas was the official home of the frozen Margarita? According to VisitDallas, the city’s official destination marketing organization, Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the frozen Margarita machine in 1971. The original machine now sits in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History next to Julia Child’s kitchen.
What inspired Mariano to invent one of the city’s most innovative contributions to American culture, and an easy way to render a frosty version of the popular cocktail? He says that he “just wanted to keep the doors of my restaurant open and my patrons and employees happy,” VisitDallas reports.
Mariano’s invention in turn inspired VisitDallas to launch the Margarita Mile experience and app in 2018. The Margarita Mile is a self-guided tour through Dallas’ distinct neighborhoods to sample its best and brightest Margaritas. As participants visit restaurants and check in on the app along the way, they earn points towards prizes.