An Italian chef who lost his job after refusing to put pineapple on a pizza says he has no regrets, insisting he was protecting a traditional dough recipe passed down by his late grandmother.

Davide Tamburella, the former head chef of La Costa in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, has spoken publicly about the controversy, which attracted international attention after his dismissal.

Tamburella said he had no objection to pineapple as an ingredient in general. He enjoys it on its own and in burgers, and said he could accept it on pizzas made with pre-prepared bases.

However, he refused to allow it on pizzas made using his grandmother’s traditional dough recipe.

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

“But not on my dough.”

Tamburella was dismissed on May 20, two weeks after a meeting with his employer over concerns about his performance. One issue raised was his refusal to add pineapple to a pizza requested by a customer at a function.

He subsequently lodged an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission. However, the Commission dismissed the application on November 3 because it was submitted outside the required time limit. The decision did not determine the merits of his dispute with the restaurant.

The controversy has since made headlines internationally, with Tamburella saying he has received strong support in Italy.

He claimed some Italians had even suggested he should receive the Cavaliere del Lavoro, an Italian honour commonly translated as Knight of Labour.

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

He said he viewed his role as head chef as a responsibility to maintain the restaurant’s commitment to authentic Italian cuisine.

“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.”

However, he described the reaction in Australia as considerably less supportive, saying he had faced criticism and even calls for him to be deported.

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

“People are even telling me that I should be deported, that I don’t respect their culture and their lifestyle.”

Despite the backlash, Tamburella said he intends to continue working in Australia and promoting traditional Italian food.

“I will continue trying to bring here in Australia something authentic, Italian,” he said.

La Costa has since closed.

The restaurant’s owner, Elliot Ingram, previously said Tamburella’s termination followed a “multitude of factors”. He also argued that Australian restaurants must respond to customer preferences.

“I really feel as though with Italians, they’re very traditional when it comes to their food, especially pizza,” Ingram said.

“But at the end of the day, we’re not in Italy, we’re in Australia, and we have to go with what the customers’ reasonable requests are.”