A restaurant owner has defended his decision to dismiss an Italian chef who refused to add pineapple to pizzas after the chef’s workplace claim was rejected.
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) heard that Davide Tamburella was dismissed on May 20 after describing pineapple on pizza as an “insult to his culture”.
Two weeks earlier, Mr Tamburella had met with his employer, La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley, to discuss several alleged performance issues. Among them was his refusal to put pineapple on a pizza being prepared for a function, according to the commission.
During the meeting, Mr Tamburella acknowledged that owner Elliot Ingram had instructed him to use the tropical fruit as a topping, the FWC heard.
The chef declined, saying that he regarded pineapple on pizza as offensive as an Italian. The commission was told it was the third time in four years that he had refused a similar instruction.
Mr Tamburella also urged his employer to research the cultural significance some Italians attach to keeping pineapple off pizza. His dismissal was also linked to an April 24 incident in which he fractured the fingers of his dominant hand after hitting a metal handrail.
Mr Ingram accepted that pineapple was not a traditional pizza topping, but said restaurants ultimately had to respond to what customers wanted.
“With Italians, they’re very traditional when it comes to their food, especially pizza. But at the end of the day, we’re not in Italy,” he told The Age.
Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram (pictured) has defended dismissing an Italian pizza chef who refused to add pineapple to pizzas
Davide Tamburella was dismissed after calling pineapple on pizza an “insult to his culture”
Mr Tamburella (pictured) also cited cultural objections to pineapple on pizza among the issues surrounding his dismissal
“We’re in Australia and we have to go with what the customers’ reasonable requests are.”
Details of Mr Tamburella’s departure were set out in an FWC ruling published on November 3 by Commissioner Jennifer Hunt.
Commissioner Hunt dismissed his challenge after finding that the application had been submitted after the statutory deadline.
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The dispute has attracted international attention, as well as widespread interest in Queensland, one of Australia’s major commercial pineapple-growing regions.
On the Sunshine Coast, tourists can even take photographs beside a 16-metre fibreglass pineapple.
“Who would have thought that pineapple on a pizza would cause such a debate across the world?” Mr Ingram said.
He said he personally had no objection to the divisive topping.
“We’re in Queensland after all, we’ve got the best pineapples in the world. But I’m more of a pepperoni guy myself, to be honest,” he said.
Mr Tamburella worked at La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley, which has since closed
Mr Ingram closed La Costa in June but continues to own other Brisbane restaurants. He previously told the Daily Mail that the dispute involved “more to this story than a pizza topping”.
“As recorded in the Fair Work Commission’s published decision, refusing to follow a management direction relating to a customer request was one of several matters raised during the disciplinary process,” he said on Thursday.
“The decision records the concerns we raised about inappropriate language, escalation during service and interactions with staff.
“Our position in the proceedings was that Mr Tamburella’s workplace injury, medical leave and workers’ compensation claim played no part in our decision to end his employment.
“The Commission dismissed his general protections dismissal application after refusing an extension to the filing deadline. It did not finally determine his claim about the reasons for his dismissal.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Tamburella has since taken up a position as head chef at Don Gino in West End.
The Daily Mail has contacted him for comment.