Candy corn pizza stirs up Halloween debate
Controversial candy corn pizza sparks a debate on ‘Fox & Friends.’ Ainsley Earhardt, Lawrence Jones and Brian Kilmeade taste test the festive holiday mashup live on-air.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
An Italian chef in Australia was fired after refusing to put pineapple on pizza, calling the controversial topping an “insult to his culture,” according to a labor dispute group’s report.
Davide Tamburella was fired from La Costa restaurant in Brisbane in May after management raised several workplace concerns, including his refusal to prepare ham-and-pineapple pizzas for customers, according to a ruling from Australia’s Fair Work Commission.
Tamburella acknowledged it was the third time in four years he had refused a direction to put pineapple on pizza, according to reports.
CAN YOU BRING A BIRTHDAY CAKE TO A RESTAURANT? VIRAL PIZZERIA DISPUTE REVEALS THE RULES
The latest dispute reportedly involved a customer who had requested ham-and-pineapple pizzas.
Tamburella, however, stood his ground.
An Italian chef (not pictured) refused to put pineapple on pizza at La Costa restaurant in Brisbane, Australia. (iStock)
As an Italian, putting pineapple on pizza was an “insult to his culture,” Tamburella told the commission, according to the ruling.
But La Costa owner Elliot Ingram said on social media that there were a “multitude of different factors” that went into the decision to fire Tamburella.
AMERICA’S BEST-TASTING PIZZA CHAIN IS AN OLD-SCHOOL FAVORITE, SURVEY FINDS
“There’s more to this story than just pizza toppings,” Ingram told 7 News in Australia.
Ingram said he raised concerns about Tamburella’s foul language, communication style and “escalation of frustration in the workplace.”
“There’s more to this story than just pizza toppings,” the owner of La Costa told Australia’s 7 News. (iStock)
“Look, I’m more of a pepperoni guy myself, to be honest,” Ingram said, pointing out that pineapple on pizza is “very common” in Australia.
“At the end of the day, we’re not in Italy. We’re in Australia,” he said.
INTERNET PILES ON ANGRY DOMINO’S CUSTOMERS DEMANDING REFUND AFTER EATING ENTIRE MEAL
The dispute quickly spilled onto social media, where commenters debated whether culinary tradition should trump a customer’s order.
“What a hill to die on,” one person wrote on Reddit.
“Pineapple rules supreme.”
“Your work serves the item on the menu. You either agree with it and work there or don’t agree and don’t,” another commenter argued.
AMERICA’S BEST PIZZERIAS CROWNED IN NEW RANKINGS AS PIZZA EXPERT GIVES SLICE OF SKEPTICISM
Others defended the controversial topping itself.
“But he’s not the one eating it.”
“Pineapple rules supreme,” one person declared.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Another commenter compared the situation to a chef refusing to accommodate other diners’ preferences, writing, “But he’s not the one eating it.”
Some people defended the chef’s stance on social media, while others defended the controversial pizza topping. (iStock)
Tamburella challenged his dismissal before the Fair Work Commission, but his application was rejected because it was filed outside the required 21-day period. The commission therefore did not rule on whether the dismissal itself was justified.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
La Costa has since closed after its lease expired, while Tamburella reportedly found work at another Italian restaurant in Brisbane.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Pineapple, perhaps fittingly, does not appear on its menu.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital reached out to the Fair Work Commission, Tamburella and Ingram for additional comment.