An Italian chef working in Brisbane has had his unfair dismissal claim dismissed after refusing to put pineapple on pizzas, stating it was an "insult to his culture" and offensive to him as an Italian. Davide Tamburella was dismissed from La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley on May 20.
Two weeks prior to his dismissal, Mr. Tamburella met with his employer to discuss performance issues, including his refusal to add pineapple to pizzas at a function. According to a Courier-Mail report, Mr. Tamburella acknowledged that his boss, Elliot Ingram, had directed the tropical fruit be added to the dish. He refused, citing cultural objections, and reportedly noted this was the third time in four years he had declined such a directive. Mr. Tamburella also suggested his boss research the cultural significance some Italians place on not including pineapple on pizza.
Other reasons cited for his dismissal included an incident on April 24 where he fractured his fingers after striking a metal handrail, and "acknowledged use of inappropriate language and escalation of the situation during service."
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Tamburella's departure were detailed in a Fair Work Commission ruling published on November 3. However, Commissioner Jennifer Hunt dismissed his challenge because the application was lodged outside the statutory 21-day filing period. Mr. Tamburella had filed his application in July, after the deadline had passed.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Tamburella has since become head chef at Don Gino in West End.