An Italian chef’s workplace claim has been dismissed after he refused to put pineapple on pizzas at a Brisbane restaurant, saying the topping was an insult to his culture.
Davide Tamburella was dismissed from La Costa Restaurant and Bar in Fortitude Valley on May 20, following concerns raised by management about his conduct and performance.
At a meeting two weeks before his dismissal, Mr Tamburella acknowledged that his employer, managing director Elliot Ingram, had instructed him to add pineapple to pizzas being prepared for a function.
He refused, saying the combination was offensive to him as an Italian. He also reportedly accepted that it was the third time in four years he had declined such an instruction and told his boss to research the cultural importance some Italians attach to keeping pineapple off pizza.
The disciplinary concerns also included an incident on April 24, when Mr Tamburella fractured fingers on his dominant hand after striking a metal handrail.
Reasons given for ending his employment referred to his alleged use of inappropriate language and escalation of a situation during service, as well as his refusal to follow the direction regarding the customer’s request.
The circumstances were set out in a Fair Work Commission ruling published on November 3 by Commissioner Jennifer Hunt. However, Mr Tamburella’s application was dismissed because it had been lodged outside the statutory deadline.
Commissioner Hunt therefore did not determine the underlying claim about the reasons for his dismissal.
Mr Ingram said there was “more to this story than a pizza toping”, adding that refusing a management direction was one of several matters raised during the disciplinary process.
“The decision records the concerns we raised about inappropriate language, escalation during service and interactions with staff,” he said.
Mr Ingram also said Mr Tamburella’s workplace injury, medical leave and workers’ compensation claim had played no part in the decision to end his employment.
Mr Tamburella has since become head chef at Don Gino in West End, according to his LinkedIn profile.
