Does an intimate dinner with 12 strangers get you lively?  

Hi Fun Friends. Oh yes, I’ve got a story.

If you’re in a long-term relationship, you know sometimes you need to throw in a zinger or two to keep things spicy. Shake things up a little.

Maybe even risk a little chaos and things going a little sideways. You know—just for fun. So, in that spirit, I recently signed up my husband and I for a secret supper club.

Sounds spicy, right?

The menu was secret (you had to guess each dish’s ingredients), the location wasn’t revealed until after you paid, and—plot twist—it turned out to be in the chef’s actual home.

Oh, and there were rules.

Rule #1: You couldn’t talk about your job or how long you’ve lived or been visiting in the city.

Rule #2: You had to bring a personal object and share the story and meaning behind it with complete strangers.

Now, this is where “fun” started to turn into “sideways.”

The night of, I casually dropped to my husband that this dinner would be
 uh, intimate. Like, 12 strangers and someone’s house intimate. He looked at me like I just told him we’d joined a reality show. But I had already paid. So sideways or not, off we went. Our Uber pulled up to a gorgeous home overflowing with colourful dĂ©cor, mismatched chairs, and teetering stacks of books in every corner. As we stepped inside, we were greeted by a mix: couples, solo adventurers, and a few friend-pods—all sitting around, marinating in the awkward.

I felt my husband pinch my arm. I knew I had to dig deep and break out my top Lively Conversation Starters.

Here are my go-to’s:

Vision questions: “What do you think will happen tonight?” (Everyone predicts the future and loves to spend time analyzing)

Environment questions: “How many books do you think are in this house? And what do you think they say about the host?” (This question always hits the mark as you can simply talk about something cool about your surroundings)

Rule-related questions: “Was picking your personal item easy or brutal?” (And follow it up with a curious, “Why?”—because ‘why’ always gets the good stuff.)

Within minutes, awkward gave way to curiosity. Curiosity turned into liveliness. People leaned in, shared generously, and the once-quiet room buzzed with real connection.

By the secret dessert, my husband whispered, “Okay
 I will stop pinching you now.”

So here’s the takeaway: The next time you’re stuck in a room with awkward silence and unfamiliar faces, skip the small talk. Go for depth, playfulness, and unexpected questions. You just might turn an uncomfortable moment into a surprisingly unforgettable lively night.

Oh—and pro tip: always pack a personal item with a story. That was a gooder!

Yours in living lively spirit, Treena x

Ps. Squeezing in one last curious question: What personal item would you have brought to this secret dinner—and why?  

Pss.  If you are thirsty for more lively conversation starters, check out this fun article:  Conversation starters that don’t suck! 

I help people and organizations find their zest, spirit and get-up- and-go in their lives and workplaces. Interested to learn how?  Give me a call.

Book here.

Or email me :  treena@minddoodles.ca