A Brisbane restaurant owner has defended his decision to dismiss an Italian chef who would not prepare pizzas topped with pineapple after the chef’s workplace claim was rejected.
The Fair Work Commission heard that Davide Tamburella was sacked on May 20 after describing pineapple on pizza as an “insult to his culture”.
Around two weeks before his dismissal, Tamburella met with managers at La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley to discuss a range of alleged performance issues. Among them was his refusal to add pineapple to pizzas being prepared for a function, according to the commission.
During the meeting, Tamburella accepted that owner Elliot Ingram had instructed him to use the tropical fruit as a topping, the FWC heard.
The chef declined, explaining that he regarded the request as offensive because he was Italian. The commission was told that he admitted it was the third time in four years he had refused a similar instruction.
Tamburella also urged his employer to investigate the cultural significance some Italians attach to keeping pineapple off pizza. The dismissal followed other workplace concerns as well, including an April 24 incident in which he fractured fingers on his dominant hand after hitting a metal handrail.
Mr Ingram acknowledged that pineapple was not a traditional pizza ingredient, but said restaurants ultimately had to respond to what customers ordered.
“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 firing an Italian pizza chef who refused to use pineapple as a topping
Davide Tamburella lost his job after describing pineapple on pizza as an “insult to his culture”
Among the other issues cited in Mr Tamburella’s dismissal was an incident in which he injured the fingers of his dominant hand on a metal handrail
“We’re in Australia and we have to respect customers’ reasonable requests.”
Details of Tamburella’s departure were outlined in a Fair Work Commission ruling published on November 3 by Commissioner Jennifer Hunt.
However, the commission did not examine the substance of his complaint because Commissioner Hunt found that the application had been submitted after the legal deadline.
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The unusual workplace dispute has attracted international attention, particularly in Queensland, a major producer of commercially grown pineapples in Australia.
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 issue with the divisive pizza 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 added.
Mr Tamburella worked at La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley, which has since shut down
Mr Ingram closed La Costa in June but continues to own other Brisbane restaurants. He previously told Our News Outlet that the dispute involved “more 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.”
Tamburella is now listed as the head chef at Don Gino in West End on his LinkedIn profile.
Our News Outlet has contacted him seeking a response.
