Private chef comparison · Coachella Valley & beyond
Comparing Chef Stephen (Traveling Spoon cooking class) and Tien’s Table for a private chef anywhere from Palm Springs and Palm Desert to La Quinta, Indio and Joshua Tree? Both cook for you at home. Here is how they differ, side by side.
| Chef Stephen | Tien’s Table | |
|---|---|---|
| Chef | Chef Stephen (Traveling Spoon host) | Chef Tien Tran |
| Based in | La Quinta / Palm Springs | Palm Springs |
| Cuisine | Southwestern-inspired, seasonal three-course menus | Modern California with Vietnamese roots, plus many global cuisines: farm-to-table, Mediterranean and Spanish, French, Italian and Latin American. See sample menus |
| Services | In-home meal; hands-on cooking class plus meal (about 1.5 hrs) | In-home private dining, celebrations and weddings, corporate and team meals at your business, cook-together classes, retreats, festival-weekend chef service |
| Service area | Palm Springs, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage | From Thermal, CA to the coast: the Coachella Valley, High Desert, Inland Empire, Los Angeles and Orange County |
| Pricing | $209–$250 per person plus a 4% processing fee (Traveling Spoon) | Custom proposal based on guest count, menu and service style. No platform fees when you book direct |
| Background | Culinary arts degree; nearly 30 years cooking | Banquet Chef at ACE Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs (2018); years in multi-unit restaurant operations, from dishwasher to district manager |
| Reviews | Traveling Spoon: 5.0 (13 reviews) | Take a Chef: 4.9 rating across 289 services (Oct 2026) |
| Booking | Traveling Spoon, Viator, Tripadvisor | Call or text 916-479-0287, or the inquiry form. Book 3–4 weeks ahead |
…you want a short marketplace-booked cooking class with a Southwestern menu.
…you want a full private dinner or a longer cook-together night, booked directly with no marketplace fee.
It depends on the menu and format you want. 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.
Tien serves Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indio, Joshua Tree, the Inland Empire and LA & Orange County.
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 Stephen: travelingspoon.com, Viator, Tripadvisor (checked October 2026). See all 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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