Italian Chef Sacked After Refusing Pineapple Pizza Invented by Greek Immigrant

05 Nov 2026, 11:24 by Arthur G · Greek City Times

An Italian chef who refused to prepare ham and pineapple pizzas because he considered the topping an insult to his culture has been dismissed from a Brisbane restaurant, reigniting one of the world’s most enduring food debates.

But there is an ironic twist to the controversy: the Hawaiian pizza that sparked the dispute was invented not in Italy or Hawaii, but in Canada by a Greek immigrant.

Davide Tamburella was dismissed from the now-closed La Costa restaurant in May, following a series of disagreements with management over his workplace conduct.

Among the complaints was his refusal to prepare ham and pineapple pizzas for guests attending a function. Tamburella reportedly argued that management instructions did not have to be followed if he considered them offensive to his Italian culture.

The dispute emerged after Tamburella lodged an unfair dismissal claim with Australia’s Fair Work Commission.

In a ruling released on Tuesday, the commission noted that the chef had refused to use pineapple on pizzas because he considered it, as an Italian, an insult to his culture.

It also found that this was not an isolated incident, with Tamburella having rejected requests to use the fruit on three occasions over four years.

On an earlier occasion, he had reportedly asked his employer to consider how important the issue was to Italians.

A Greek immigrant invented Hawaiian pizza

The history of the controversial pizza makes the dispute particularly ironic.

Hawaiian pizza was invented in 1962 by Greek-born Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos, who introduced the combination of ham and pineapple at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario.

Greek inventor Hawaiian pizza Sam Panopoulos

Panopoulos had emigrated from Greece to Canada in 1954 and experimented with sweet and savoury combinations before adding canned pineapple to pizza.

The name Hawaiian reportedly came from the brand of canned pineapple used in the original recipe.

His creation went on to become one of the most recognisable and divisive pizza varieties worldwide, provoking strong reactions from traditionalists, particularly in Italy.

Panopoulos, who died in 2017, became internationally recognised as the man behind a topping that continues to divide pizza lovers decades after its invention.

Workplace complaints extended beyond pizza

The Fair Work Commission’s ruling also outlined other concerns raised by management, including allegations involving foul language, communication difficulties and escalating frustration in the workplace.

An incident in April was also detailed, during which Tamburella fractured bones in his right hand after striking a metal handrail.

The chef had reportedly hoped La Costa would sponsor a skilled worker visa that could eventually allow him to obtain permanent residency in Australia. However, following his dismissal, the restaurant discontinued the sponsorship process.

Tamburella’s unfair dismissal application was unsuccessful because it was lodged outside the required time limit, according to the commission’s ruling.

Restaurant managing director Elliot Ingram told the Daily Mail there was “more to this story than a pizza topping”.

The BBC has approached Tamburella for comment.

Tamburella’s LinkedIn profile describes his professional focus as delivering exceptional food and improving business performance. He also previously published a post titled “Letter for Chefs”, highlighting the importance of respecting ingredients.

His profile indicates that he has since moved to another Brisbane restaurant, whose menu does not feature pineapple as a pizza topping.

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