{
  "id": 18455833,
  "title": "'Multitude of factors' behind firing of chef who refused pineapple on pizza",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/multitude-of-factors-behind-firing-of-chef-who-refused-pineapple-on",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-06T06:14:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-06/queensland-pineapple-pizza-firing/107357058"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The owner of Brisbane restaurant La Costa has revealed multiple factors contributed to the chef's firing, despite the chef's claim it was the sole reason. Davide Tamburella, the fired Italian chef, filed an unfair dismissal claim, arguing the restaurant's request to add pineapple to pizza was offensive to his culture. The Fair Work Commission dismissed his claim, but the commission's ruling released this week noted Tamburella had repeatedly refused the pineapple request over the past four years. Management fired Tamburella in May following a meeting with Tamburella and other staff. Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram said the pineapple request, made by a birthday celebrant, factored into the decision, but their cultural differences, including Italians' traditional views on certain foods, played a role as well. In addition, the commission found Tamburella had injured his hand and fractured two bones in his right hand while on the job, but he submitted his application more than 21 days after being fired, and the commission did not find exceptional circumstances to extend the time for filing.",
  "summary": "Brisbane restaurant manager Elliot Ingram says there were a number of reasons behind the firing of a chef who refused to put pineapple on a customer's pizza.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}