“I believe everyone has a topic they enjoy talking about. Depending on their age and gender, however, I’ll start with getting them to speak about themselves, their family or kids. However, I will never ask them about their age! It’s generally a sensitive topic to avoid, even if it isn’t for you.”

“I would try to start a conversation that everyone at the table can partake in, so everyone feels a little more comfortable with each other. I’ll then keep the conversation flowing by creating opportunities to go on to the next topic, such as closing a conversation with “Oh, that’s interesting” then divert it to another general topic. Sharing compliments about the host of the event always works too. If a conversation becomes unbearable—either because it’s going into controversial grounds or the other party won’t stop talking—there’s nothing wrong with excusing yourself politely from the table for a breather.”

“For millennials, awkward silence at a dinner table can only mean two things: either we’re all editing photos and scrolling through Instagram, or we’re witnessing the unfolding of a couple’s fight at our table. Sometimes it gets so awkward you become unsure if it’s even appropriate to take photos of the food anymore. To overcome this, distract your tablemates with the food—ask them for their favourite dish so far, their cravings, guilty pleasures... If that doesn’t work, the fail-proof solution is Snapchat. No one can turn down taking photos with a ridiculous dog filter or at least smile from its ridiculousness.”