Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is at it again, trying so hard to look culturally enlightened that he ends up looking more like a kid forced to finish the mystery casserole at the dinner table. A video is going viral of him sitting with a group of Somalis, bravely attempting to eat an authentic Somali dish called Ambulo. Given the massive Somalian fraud scandal still hanging over Minnesota and President Trump making it perfectly clear he wants this chaos cleaned up, Frey apparently figured the best political strategy was to sit down, smile, and shovel in a spoonful of sweet bean stew.
The problem is that his face completely betrayed him. The second that Ambulo hit his tongue, Frey looked like he was fighting for his life. There is a moment, right after he lifts the spoon, where you can practically see his soul trying to exit his body. He chews politely, nods, and pretends everything is wonderful while a crowd of Somalis cheer him on, but the camera does not lie. The man was one grimace away from losing his lunch.
The longer clip is even worse for him. He keeps pushing the food around his plate in that classic maneuver every parent knows too well. Kids do it when they want to convince you they’ve eaten dinner. Adults do it when they are trapped in a political photo op and the food is fighting back. Mayor Frey clearly did not want to clean his plate.
Jacob Frey looks like he really went through it while sampling Somali cuisine pic.twitter.com/4E0ZSIImvW
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) December 5, 2025
Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey looks like he is about to throw up after trying a popular Somali dish called 'Ambulo.'
Man: "Try it. Mix it, mix it, mix it."
Frey: "Mmmmm… It's delicious. What is that?"
Man: "This is Ambulo." pic.twitter.com/V5GK7Kr7vq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2025
For anyone wondering what caused the mayor’s near meltdown, Ambulo is basically a sweet bean and grain stew. Grok gave a breakdown that makes it sound far heartier on paper than it looked on that plate. It is made from adzuki beans and sorghum, soaked overnight, then boiled into a porridge like mix. Somalis typically serve it warm, drizzled with sesame oil, loaded with sugar, and sometimes topped with ghee. Optional garnishes include roasted coffee beans or cardamom. It is eaten with a spoon or by hand from a shared bowl.
Now, all of that may sound charming in theory. But judging by Frey’s reaction, this particular batch was not exactly a crowd pleaser. When your mayor looks like he is negotiating his own survival after one bite, it does not inspire confidence.
If Frey thought this was going to be some grand moment of solidarity, he may want to reconsider his strategy. Because nothing says political desperation quite like gagging your way through a bowl of sugary beans while pretending it is the best thing you have ever tasted.
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