Private chef comparison · Coachella Valley & High Desert
Comparing Chef Palm Springs (Chef Wayne Smith) and Tien’s Table for a private chef anywhere from Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage to Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella and up to Joshua Tree? Both cook in your home. Here is how they differ, laid out side by side so you can pick the right chef for your night.
| Chef Wayne Smith | Tien’s Table | |
|---|---|---|
| Chef | Wayne Smith | Chef Tien Tran |
| Based in | Palm Springs | Palm Springs |
| Cuisine | Classic Italian, BBQ, seafood, steakhouse | Modern California with Vietnamese roots, plus many global cuisines: farm-to-table, Mediterranean and Spanish, French, Italian and Latin American. See sample menus |
| Services | Personal chef dinners, weekly meals, meal delivery, culinary retreats, events | In-home private dining, celebrations and weddings, corporate and team meals at your business, cook-together classes, festival-weekend chef service |
| Service area | Palm Springs | From Thermal, CA to the coast: the Coachella Valley, High Desert, Inland Empire, Los Angeles and Orange County |
| Pricing | Airbnb listings $95–$200/guest with $350–$1,000 minimums | Custom proposal based on guest count, menu and service style. No platform fees when you book direct |
| Background | Culinary Institute of America; 30+ years as an executive chef | Banquet Chef at ACE Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs (2018); years in multi-unit restaurant operations, from dishwasher to district manager |
| Reviews | Airbnb: 5.0 across 6 reviews (Oct 2026) | Take a Chef: 4.9 rating across 289 services (Oct 2026) |
| Booking | Website form or Airbnb | Call or text 916-479-0287, or the inquiry form. Book 3–4 weeks ahead |
…you want classic Italian or steakhouse dinners, or weekly meal delivery in Palm Springs.
…you are outside Palm Springs (Tien covers 15 desert cities), or you want Modern California cooking with Vietnamese heritage.
It depends on the menu and format you want. Both are local private chefs. Use the table above, then call Tien at 916-479-0287 to talk through your date. If he isn’t the right fit, he’ll tell you.
Three to four weeks for most dinners; longer for weddings, large groups and festival weekends.
Tien serves Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Indio, Joshua Tree and every city in our service area.
Want to see what Tien would cook for you? Tell us your date, city and guest count and you will get a custom menu back.
Sources for Chef Wayne Smith: chefpalmsprings.com, Airbnb Services (checked October 2026). See all Coachella Valley private chef comparisons.
Tien’s Table is not affiliated with any business named on this page. Competitor details come from their public websites and booking profiles as of October 2026 and may have changed; ratings are snapshots. If anything here is out of date, email [email protected] and we will correct it.
From Thermal, CA to the coast, we cook with passion. A private chef who comes to you for in-home dinners, celebrations, team meals and cooking experiences across the Coachella Valley, the High Desert and Southern California.
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