“Not on my dough”: Aussie chef fired over pineapple pizza, now he’s a national hero in Italy

An Italian chef who was sacked from a Brisbane restaurant for refusing to put pineapple on pizza has become an international sensation, with supporters back in his homeland hailing him as a hero for defending one of Italy’s most sacred culinary traditions.

And while Davide Tamburella may have lost his job, he’s certainly won himself a few fans.

The former head chef at Brisbane’s La Costa Restaurant and Bar found himself at the centre of a global food fight after refusing to prepare ham-and-pineapple pizzas for customers at a private function.

For most Australians, the Hawaiian pizza is a perfectly respectable combination of ham, cheese and tropical fruit. For Tamburella, however, it was apparently a declaration of war.

The chef argued that adding pineapple to pizza was an insult to his Italian heritage, particularly when the dough was made using a treasured recipe handed down by his late grandmother. And he wasn’t about to let a few chunks of tropical fruit desecrate Nonna’s legacy.

“I’m nobody to tell you, especially if you’re the owner, not to do it (on pre-made bases),” he explained. “But not on my dough.”

Tamburella, who was dismissed in May, had reportedly refused similar requests three times during his employment at the restaurant.

His most recent refusal came during preparations for a private function reportedly worth $15,000, when a customer requested the controversial topping.

Management was less than impressed.

But when news of his dismissal emerged following an unsuccessful Fair Work Commission case, the story went viral, sparking an international outpouring of support.

Social media users rushed to defend the chef, describing him as a “true patriot” and praising his refusal to compromise his culinary principles.

Even Domino’s Pizza UK joined the celebrations, describing Tamburella as “a man of principle” before declaring him a “legend”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the strongest support came from Italy, where pineapple on pizza has long been regarded by traditionalists as something approaching a criminal offence.

Tamburella told The Courier-Mail that his newfound fame had transformed him into something of a national treasure.

“In Italy, I’m definitely a hero … mostly because I stood my ground,” he said.

He even claimed some supporters wanted him recognised with the prestigious Cavaliere del Lavoro honour, roughly translated as Knight of Labour.

Not bad for a bloke who simply refused to open a tin of pineapple.

But Tamburella’s former boss, Elliot Ingram, has defended the decision to dismiss him, insisting the controversy was about more than a disputed pizza topping.

“At the end of the day, we’re not in Italy, we’re in Australia, and we have to go with what the customer’s reasonable requests are,” Ingram told 7NEWS.

He acknowledged that Italians were fiercely traditional about their food but argued that pineapple was a common and perfectly reasonable request in Australian restaurants.

Ingram also revealed that he wasn’t particularly fond of Hawaiian pizza himself, preferring pepperoni.

“There’s more to this story than just pizza toppings,” he said.

According to the restaurant, Tamburella’s dismissal also involved concerns about his communication style, inappropriate language and escalating frustration during service.

These included an incident in which the chef fractured his hand after striking a metal rail.

Tamburella subsequently challenged his dismissal through the Fair Work Commission, but his application was rejected because it had been lodged outside the required time limit, rather than because the tribunal had ruled on the merits of the pineapple dispute.

The restaurant has since closed, although its closure was attributed to the expiry of its lease and rising business costs, rather than any shortage of pineapple.

Meanwhile, the controversy has revived a debate that has divided pizza lovers for more than 60 years.

Despite its name, Hawaiian pizza wasn’t invented in Hawaii, or anywhere near Italy. It was created in Canada in 1962 by Greek-born restaurateur Sam Panopoulos, who decided that combining pineapple and ham on a pizza might be worth a try.

Millions of people have been arguing about it ever since.

While traditionalists insist fruit has no place on a pizza, Hawaiian fans argue that the combination of sweet pineapple, salty ham and melted cheese is a match made in heaven.

Tamburella, however, says his objection is more nuanced than simply disliking pineapple. He enjoys the fruit on its own and even in burgers, and says he would have been prepared to serve it on a pre-made pizza base.

His objection was specifically to using his grandmother’s traditional dough, which he believes should be treated with respect.

“I don’t have any regrets,” he said. “Not because I said no, but because I said no and at the same time, I gave you an alternative.”

Not everyone has been quite so supportive.

While Italians have celebrated his stand, Tamburella says some Australians have accused him of disrespecting their culture, with others even calling for his deportation.

“In Australia, I’m being crucified,” he said.

Nevertheless, the chef remains determined to continue promoting authentic Italian cuisine in Australia. And there’s a delicious twist to the story. Tamburella has reportedly found work as head chef at another Brisbane restaurant, Don Gino, in West End.

Its pizza menu? Not a pineapple in sight.

Somewhere, Nonna would surely be smiling.