Davide Tamburella, an Italian chef, was fired from a Brisbane restaurant after refusing to serve pineapple on pizza. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
The incident occurred at La Costa, a restaurant on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, which closed in May.
Tamburella was dismissed following a meeting with management in April, where concerns were raised about his conduct.
Among the complaints was his refusal to prepare a ham and pineapple pizza for a guest function.
At the time, he told management that any instruction that offended his culture did not need to be followed.
His Stated Reason
According to Australia’s Fair Work Commission, Tamburella believed that adding pineapple to pizza was an ‘insult to Italian culture’.
The commission noted this was not the first time he had refused to use pineapple on pizzas — it was the third such refusal in the past four years.
He had previously asked his boss to verify how significant the cultural aversion to pineapple on pizza is for Italians.
Background: A Cultural Divide
Queensland is Australia’s main pineapple-growing region. It produces all commercially grown pineapples in the country.
Despite this, some chefs and food professionals maintain that pineapple on pizza is culturally inappropriate in Italy.
Workplace Concerns
Other issues raised during the employment review included:
- Use of foul language by Tamburella
- His communication style
- Escalation of frustration during workplace interactions
In April, Tamburella fractured bones in his right hand after striking a metal hand rail.
Legal Outcome
Tamburella filed a claim with the Fair Work Commission, arguing he had been unfairly dismissed.
The commission ruled against him, stating that the claim was filed too late to be considered valid.
He had hoped the restaurant would sponsor a visa allowing skilled workers to become permanent residents.
After his dismissal, the restaurant ended that process.
What the Restaurant Said
Elliot Ingram, the managing director, told the Daily Mail: ‘There is more to this story than a pizza topping.’
He did not elaborate further on the full scope of the workplace issues.
What to Watch Next
While the case is about a single menu item, it raises questions about cultural sensitivity in food service and workplace boundaries.
It also highlights how personal beliefs can intersect with professional duties.
Tamburella now works at another Brisbane restaurant. A BBC check found pineapple is not on that restaurant’s menu.
On his LinkedIn, he describes himself as focused on delivering exceptional food and improving business performance.
He previously posted a letter titled ‘Respecting the Ingredients’ — a message that reflects his ongoing commitment to food ethics.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Pineapple chunks on a ham pizza. Via original publisher. Image source
