Italian chef's dismissal over pineapple pizza sparks Fair Work Commission case
A Brisbane restaurant owner’s attempt to overturn the firing of an Italian chef who refused to add pineapple to a pizza was rejected by the Fair Work Commission.
A Brisbane restaurant owner has said his decision to dismiss an Italian chef for refusing to place pineapple on a pizza attracted worldwide media attention. Chef David Tamburella took the matter to the Fair Work Commission, arguing that, as an Italian, being asked to add pineapple insulted his culture. The commission rejected his unfair dismissal claim because the application was filed after the 21-day deadline.
Commissioner Jennifer Hunt said the circumstances did not constitute an exceptional case, stating, "I do not consider the circumstances of this case to be out of the ordinary course, unusual, special or uncommon." Tamburella explained that his late filing was due to stress over his visa status and difficulty concentrating.
Former owner Elliot Ingram, who runs other Brisbane eateries, said the termination resulted from multiple factors, with the pineapple incident acting as a catalyst. He emphasized the restaurant’s focus on meeting reasonable customer requests, noting, "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. We’re in Australia and we have to go with what the customers’ reasonable requests are."
La Costa closed in June, and Ingram added that he personally enjoys pineapple on pizza but prefers pepperoni. The case has been reported by several international outlets, including the BBC and The New York Post.