My friend Piia introduced me some time ago to the Music Game concept. A group of people bring
n songs each to a gathering - the songs should be something new, interesting and unlikely to have been listened to before by the others. Each one is played in full, and the others write down what they think, who the artist might be and a score out of ten, then discuss, then onto the next person. Yes, a way to make listening to music feel like work :-)
The reason why this is great fun, is because you're doing a blind tasting, um listening, so if you think you love or hate such and such a band you would have a prejudice before the song starts. This gives it a frisson of unknown and you're more likely to follow up the artist and see what else you might like by them.
An extra rule is that we try to add things in that are a bit out there, or that we're not even sure we like ourselves. And we definitely don't pander to the other person even though it might be their fave song ever.
So we'll do the same with the food - things we haven't made before (two courses each) eaten in absolute silence as per the rules so as not to give away enjoyment levels. Well, heh, not really. But we get to grade everything tonight, so red pens at the ready.