An Italian chef in Brisbane, Australia, was fired from the now-closed La Costa restaurant after refusing to add pineapple to a pizza, an action he described as an "insult to his culture." The chef, Davide Tamburella, subsequently brought an unfair dismissal claim to Australia's Fair Work Commission.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the Commission noted Tamburella's stance on the controversial topping. According to the report, Tamburella had stated, "he considers, as an Italian, that putting pineapple on a pizza is an insult to his culture." This was reportedly the third time he had refused to use pineapple on a pizza.
The restaurant management cited Tamburella's conduct as the reason for his dismissal, including his refusal to add pineapple to pizzas, his communication style, and his use of foul language, which they claimed caused "escalation of frustration in the workplace." The report also mentioned an incident where Tamburella fractured his hand after striking a metal handrail.
Tamburella had reportedly hoped the restaurant would sponsor a visa for him to become a permanent resident, but the dismissal halted that process. His unfair dismissal claim was ultimately denied as the application was filed too late.
Tamburella, who describes himself on LinkedIn as committed to "delivering exceptional food" and "improving business performance," had previously posted a "letter for chefs" emphasizing "respecting the ingredients." He has reportedly found new employment at another Brisbane restaurant that does not feature pineapple on its menu.
The debate over pineapple on pizza has a long history. The combination of ham and pineapple is attributed to Sam Panopoulos, a Greek immigrant in Canada, who invented it in 1962, inspired by sweet-and-sour Chinese-American cuisine and the era's fascination with Tiki culture.
In recent years, the topping has sparked controversy and humorous responses. A pizzeria in Norwich, England, went viral for charging $125 for a Hawaiian pizza to discourage customers from ordering it. In 2017, the former President of Iceland, Gudni Johannesson, famously expressed a desire to ban the topping entirely.