For decades, pineapple has been widely regarded as the most polarizing pizza topic.
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Most people believe fruit has no place on pizza, while others consider pineapple among the best pizza toppings.
National surveys consistently rank pineapple among the least desirable pizza toppings. According to Food & Wine, the fruit was recently dethroned as the worst topping, with anchovies taking its place.
An Italian chef considers pineapple pizza an "insult to his culture" and refused to serve the dish at the restaurant where he worked.
His unwillingness to cook a pineapple pizza ultimately cost him his job.
Davide Tamburella served as a chef at La Costa, an Italian eatery based in Brisbane, Australia.
"We promise, it'll only take a moment to realize you're not in Brisbane anymore. You've made it to the Italian Riviera," the now-closed restaurant's website read.
During his time with the restaurant, Tamburella allegedly refused to use pineapple on his pizza several times.
Restaurant management fired the Italian chef after receiving multiple complaints about his conduct and refusal to serve customer-requested dishes.
Tamburella, believing that he was dismissed without proper cause, filed a complaint with Australia's Fair Work Commission.
Italian Chef Fired For Refusing to Serve Pineapple Pizza
His boss, Elliott Ingram, told The Guardian that "there was more to the story than a pizza topping."
Ingram accused Tamburella of frequently using foul language, which caused "escalation of frustration in the workplace."
The restaurant also pointed out an incident on April 24, when he fractured the fingers on his dominant hand after striking a metal handrail, as additional reasons for his dismissal.
Ultimately, Tamburella lost his unfair dismissal claim, which he filed after the application deadline.
"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," Ingram said.
"'The decision records the concerns we raised about inappropriate language, escalation during service and interactions with staff," Ingram added.
Tamburella is now the head chef at Don Gino in West End, according to his LinkedIn profile. Thankfully, for the chef's sake, the restaurant does not serve pineapple.
