The Swedish Meatballs are a force to be reckoned with at Tim’s Texas BBQ’s infamous trivia night. Lish Moreau tells us about her team and the bizarre questions they answer to stay on top.

Beijing has a number of trivia nights in town. What’s so special about trivia at Tim’s Texas BBQ?

I used to go in the U.S., so when Tim told us about the trivia night, we went and ended up liking the style of it, and we really liked the quiz master, Julian. He asks challenging but entertaining questions and has a good sense of humor. It’s less game show and more cerebral.

By cerebral, you mean it’s tougher?

Well, everyone knows random stuff. One question last week was about the ref for an English football team, Ken Ashton: “What was his previous occupation before umpire?” I thought that was so bizarre, but people knew it! Turns out, he was a headmaster. Another element of trivia at Tim’s is that there is a prize for last place, so if you’re not going to place in the top three, you can switch gears and go for last.

What makes for a great trivia team?

Our group originally came together through friendships, but now we all have our special skills. We’ve got a geography wiz, another guy who’s great with music ...

What’s your skill?

Lately, it’s pop culture and sports, which is strange. How do you get ready for trivia night? I study. Monday before, I read the gospel that is China Daily, as well as the BBC and CNN websites. I also study my map of Africa. There’s always a question like “If you’re in Cairo, what is the least number of countries you must walk through to get to Capetown?”

Who has the toughest trivia team?

It varies, but lately, The Nebsters and The Goods Are Odd are our toughest competition. We started weak. We used to try to win last place, but now we’re in the top three.

Where does your team’s name, Swedish Meatballs, come from?

Over the summer, one of our members visited Ikea specifically for the Swedish meatballs. She said the meatballs were so good, it made her day. She returned to Sweden, but we’ve kept the name because it has brought us good karma.

What’s the weirdest question Quiz Master Julian has asked?

We were once asked “How many cats are consumed in Guangdong Province each day?” Someone guessed 130,000, which seemed crazy, but it was closest to the actual number of 100,000.

Trivia Night at Tim’s Texas BBQ, every Tuesday, 8pm Tel: 6591-9161