Thank goodness for adventurous friends who introduce us to new sensations. Otherwise, most humans tend to be creatures of habit, often stuck in a rut of the same old same-old.

My job keeps me moving forward in trying new things, though at times I, too, just want the comfort of eating only for my pleasure, rather than for diversity.

I thought I had that moment when I was invited by a friend to have lunch at Neiman Marcus’ Mariposa restaurant. On a hot day I was eyeing a refreshing, light and cool dessert of sorbet. But this simple goal was dashed when a friend, on her way out of the restaurant, stopped by midmeal to tell me she was sending over dessert.

I awaited fate.

Dessert looked heavy, some kind of mousse topped with a cream layer and a chocolate sail, and served with two petite truffle brownies on the side.

I tentatively dipped into the cream and took a nibble. It was delicious! I dug in further.

"Omigod, this is so good," I told my table companion, and she dug in as well. From that point the spoonfuls got bigger and bigger.

It was hard to stop eating the Caramel Pot du Creme ($7.50), a winning combo of melt-in-your-mouth caramel mousse and whipped coffee cream.

Try it right away. This one’s a keeper that needs to stay on the menu.

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"Bite Size" profiles the small, the new, the unsung.