Chef Fired Over Pineapple Pizza Refusal

Management raised concerns after Tamburella declined to provide ham and pineapple pizza for guests during a private function. That event was valued at more than A$15,000.

Elliot Ingram, a representative for the restaurant, stated, "We had a large function come in, and they were spending in excess of $15,000, and the guy paying for the whole thing says: ‘Look, I need to get some ham and pineapple pizza’."

Tamburella claims his termination contravened the Fair Work Act. He alleges his dismissal was partly motivated by a workplace injury, a fractured right hand sustained after striking a metal handrail.

He also claims his sacking stemmed from his refusal to put pineapple on pizzas, considering it an insult to his culture. Tamburella previously requested his boss to "check how important it was for Italians not to put pineapple on a pizza," and stated that any management direction "need not be followed when it is offensive to his culture."

La Costa management, however, claims wider factors contributed to the dismissal beyond a pizza topping. These included inappropriate language and communication issues, with concerns raised about Tamburella using foul language and an "escalation of frustration in the workplace."

Queensland is a principal pineapple-growing region in Australia, adding a local dimension to the ingredient dispute. Ingram noted, Do I go and buy a ham and pineapple pizza? It’s probably not my absolute favourite. But I’m not going to turn my nose up at it, that’s for sure. And, look, we have had ham and pineapple pizza on the kid’s menu previously.

La Costa restaurant closed in July 2023, citing the high cost of doing business. The Fair Work Commission later dismissed Tamburella's application, ruling it was filed too late and did not meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances.