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Chef fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizza
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Pizza - Level 4
An Italian chef in Australia has been fired for refusing to put ham and pineapple on pizzas. He tried to get his job back, but he failed. The chef said topping pizzas with pineapple was an "insult to his culture". His employer stated that the chef's refusal was just one of several workplace issues. The chef did not get his job back because he submitted the paperwork after the deadline. The chef has since found a job at a different Italian restaurant.
The Hawaiian pizza was reportedly created in Canada in 1962 after a chef used ham and pineapple as toppings. The issue of pineapple on pizza has divided public opinion since then. Pizza lovers are shocked at the idea. The restaurant owner in Australia said pineapple was not his "absolute favourite" topping, but he would not "turn his nose up at it". Many restaurant owners say customers should be able to choose whatever toppings they like.
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Pizza - Level 5
An Italian chef in Australia has been fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizzas. He tried to fight his dismissal and get his job back, but he failed. The chef said topping pizzas with the tropical fruit was an "insult to his culture". He claimed he was sacked from a restaurant after repeatedly refusing to make pineapple and ham pizzas for diners. His employer stated that the chef's refusal was one of several workplace issues. The chef's application to get his job back failed because he submitted it after the deadline. The chef has since found a job at another Italian restaurant.
The question of whether pineapple belongs on a pizza divides public opinion. Pizza lovers are shocked at the idea, but pineapple on pizza is on menus in many countries. The Hawaiian pizza was reportedly created in Canada in 1962 after a chef used ham and pineapple as toppings. The restaurant owner in Australia admitted that while pineapple was not his "absolute favourite" topping, he would not "turn his nose up at it". Many restaurant owners say customers should be free to enjoy whatever toppings they choose. Hawaiian pizza is very popular, but many Italians dislike the idea of it.
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Pizza - Level 6
An Italian chef in Brisbane, Australia, has been fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizzas, among other reasons. He went to the Fair Work Commission to fight his dismissal, but failed to get his job back. The chef stated that topping pizzas with the tropical fruit was an "insult to his culture". He claimed he was sacked from a restaurant in May after repeatedly refusing his boss's instructions to make pineapple and ham pizzas for diners. His employer contended that the refusal was one of several workplace issues. The commission rejected the chef's application because it was submitted after the deadline. The chef has since found a job at another Italian restaurant.
The question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza is a controversial one. It continues to divide public opinion. Pizza purists are aghast at the idea, but it is an established menu staple in many countries. The Hawaiian pizza was reportedly invented in Canada in 1962 after a chef used ham and pineapple as toppings. The restaurant owner expressed his opinion on it. He admitted that while the pizza was not his "absolute favourite," he would not "turn his nose up at it". Many restaurateurs insist that customers should be free to enjoy whatever ingredients and toppings they choose. Although the Hawaiian pizza is popular internationally, many Italians regard it as "culinary heresy".
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