An Italian chef was fired from his job in Australia after he refused to make pizza with pineapple, arguing that the topping was an insult to Italian culture. Davide Tamburella worked at La Costa restaurant in Queensland until he was dismissed in May following a confrontation with management.
According to a report in The Guardian, the dispute erupted after Tamburella refused to prepare pineapple pizzas for a private event at the restaurant. The restaurant's owner, Elliot Ingram, said the event organizer had spent more than 15,000 Australian dollars and requested the pizza, but this was the third time the chef had refused.
Tamburella argued that management could not order him to perform an action that, in his words, violated his culture. He filed a complaint with Australia's Fair Work Commission claiming wrongful dismissal, citing in part an on-the-job injury in which he broke his hand.
The commission rejected his claim, ruling that it had been filed late and that no exceptional circumstances justified accepting it.
Ironically, Queensland is the center of Australia's pineapple-growing industry. The restaurant closed in July, and Tamburella now works at another Italian restaurant where pineapple pizza does not appear on the menu.
