Brisbane chef dismissed after refusing pineapple topping on pizza

Italian chef Davide Tamburella was dismissed from a Brisbane restaurant in May after refusing to add pineapple to pizza, saying the topping insulted his cultural heritage. The Fair Work Commission upheld the dismissal last week.

Tamburella told reporters he enjoys pineapple but not on pizza, adding that he was protecting his Nonna’s dough recipe. He said he would accept pineapple on a store-bought base but not on a traditional Italian pizza.

Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram said the pineapple incident was one of several issues, including inappropriate language, staff interactions and conduct during service, that led to the termination.

The case has revived debate over the popular yet controversial Hawaiian pizza, a dish invented in Canada in the 1960s. Queensland, which produces about 35 million pineapples annually, remains divided on the topping's place in local menus.