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Farmers Market mourns death of happy young friend, father-to-be
Thirty-two-year-old Amit Tandon was killed last week.
He operated Guzzetti’s Catering and Indian Food in Chico, where he was a well-liked and respected businessman, admired for his kindness and his tireless work ethic.
Here in the north state, Tandon had many friends at the Redding Certified Farmers Market, where he sold a variety of Indian and Middle Eastern foods.
He leaves Deepika, his wife. The two married last year. Their first child is expected around December.
Deaths like Tandon’s are the ultimate head-shaker-of-a-freaking-injustice.
Something so horrible and unfair can’t be true.
But of course, it is.
Tandon died last Wednesday night in Chico.
The Chico Enterprise Record reported that 36-year-old Troy Hovey of Chico smashed head-on into Tandon’s catering truck. Hovey is in the Butte County Jail on charges of alleged felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
But even the strictest conviction of Hovey will not breathe life into Tandon.
I last saw Tandon on July 26 at the Redding Farmers Market. That was my day for a cooking demonstration of Naan Pizza, a recipe I made up as I drove into town that morning.
Maybe you remember when I shared that recipe with you here.
That Saturday I went to the Guzzetti’s Catering and Indian Food booth to buy some naan (Indian flat bread) for the demo.
A crush of customers pressed half-a-dozen across and three deep in front of the Guzzetti’s table, like baby birds clamoring for a feeding.
Amit Tandon was the main attraction. He grinned and laughed as he talked. His hands were a blur as he cut naan and scooped dips and handed samples to the eager crowd.
Here, try this, and oh, try that, and wait, you didn’t get this one, and I think you will really like this one. And another. And another.
Most people’s cupped hands looked like mine: full of thin white napkins stained and heaped with Tandon’s samples. People nodded earnestly, with full mouths turned up at the corners. Mmmm. Good. Very good.
When Tandon wasn’t handing out samples, he was selling.
Tandon laughed when I told him his naan would be featured in the cooking demo.
Naan pizza!
Such a beautiful smile. Such a sweet, open presence. So full of exuberance and energy. So full of laughter and life.
Everyone who knew him at the Redding Certified Farmers Market mourns his death.
Everyone who knew him at Chico’s Thursday Night Market mourns his death.
Everyone who knew him at Paradise’s Wednesday Night Market mourns his death.
Come winter, a tiny part of Amit Tandon will live again.
Godspeed, baby Tandon. And long life.
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very sad
What a tragic loss. Tandon’s smile touched so many lives. My heart goes out to his family.
Thank you for your tribute. I am heartbroken about Amit’s death, but inspired that baby Tandon will have so many positive memories of his father to draw on.
We buy his products on Sunday morning in Galt.
What a tragic, senseless waste.
He was such a joy to talk to on Saturday mornings - so much fun and so sure you would love his food (which everyone did). It’s a huge loss to Chico and Redding.
What a lovely and heartfelt tribute, Doni. For those of us who were not fortunate enough to have met him — and it sounds like he had the sort of positively infectious spirit that touched anyone he encountered — reading what you’ve written about him helps us feel that we knew him just a little.
I just read this and am shocked. I was at his booth just before he was killed and as his hands started flashing at me with samples, I politely told him, “please, no samples today. I am very familiar with your foods”. He gave me a great big smile as I handed him the correct amount of money for my purchases. I came home and made a breakfast pizza with his wonderful spinach bread. I crisped the bread on both sides in a non-stick pan, smeared it with concentrated sun-dried tomato paste, then topped with garden tomatoes, sweet basil leaves, and low-fat mozzarella cheese. Pit the lid on the pan and let it cook on low heat until the cheese melted. I love this dish at breakfast. It is fresh, lively, and honest flavors. I think I will call it my Amit Breakfast Pizza in his honor.
I sincerely hope the family can keep the booth at our Farmer’s Market up and running. It was one of the most popular. I loved standing there and watching the people’s faces and hearing their comments when they sampled his food.
Terrible news. I saw the memorial, but I had no idea how he passed. Unbearable tragedy. Such an effusive personality! “Tireless work ethic” really doesn’t begin to describe it. He was truly a dynamo. I carry fond memories of the spicy mango chutney I would not have tried without his earnest insistence. Tandon family, our thoughts are with you.
Doni…What a tragic loss of life for one so talented as Amit Tandon to be cut down at such a young age. My prayers are with Deepika and her new born. May God comfort her in this troubling time and give her peace to cope.
Next time, next time, I kept saying, as his booth was always so crowded & I hurried on to beat the heat & leave the market. May his soul rest in peace & his family be given the strength it takes to carry on when losing a loved one. Sometimes there just isn’t a ‘next time’. I’m sorry I missed him.
My heart is so heavy with this sad news about Amit. I also enjoyed his delicious breads and dips at the Red Bluff Farmer’s Market. His vibrant personality was as wonderful as his food. What a precious man, and what a tragic loss.
What a blow to the gut! I experienced the Farmer’s Market only three times during my recent visit to Redding and Amit was the most delighftul and giving person I met. During my very first visit I asked about “black dal” that I had eaten during my time in New Delhi years ago and the next week at the Market he had some waiting for me. What more can one say than it is such a tragic waste to lose someone so giving.
We were shocked and dismayed to hear of the loss of this vibrant and delightful human being. Though we only knew him through the Famer’s Market in Redding, we think the world a poorer place without him. Our deepest condolences to his with and family. We are holding them in our hearts. Robert and Deborah Cooper.
This was the worst news i could have ever got. I had just got back from vaction that day and opened the newspaper and front page looked just like our company truck i use to drive Deepika (Momma Bear) in to most markets after Amit ( Poppa bear) trained me. So I made one call to find out it was true. I had lost a dear friend to a drunk. He makes the thrid friend of mine I have lost to drunk drivers. I am Nikki by the way that you see at the markets now. Amit and I use to do Chico, Truckee, and Redding together. He was like a father to me and I am sure most people saw that we had alot of fun working together. I just wanted to thank everyone thats been there for me helping at the markets and helping Deepika as well. We are keeeping the business going as most can see, its what he would have wanted. Thank You for your support. We need it now more than ever…