Dean Alan Watkin began his culinary journey in a country restaurant before earning a place in the VIP suite of a private catering company — cooking for royal families, heads of state, and figures from the worlds of film and music aboard private aircraft.
That path led to a return to restaurant life, where his work earned inclusion in the Michelin Guide.
But it was Asia that captured his imagination. A journey to Thailand became a life-changing encounter — with a cuisine, a culture, and the woman who would become his wife. Dean studied Thai cooking in Thailand itself, under a former chef of the Royal Palace.
From country kitchens to royal skies — and a discovery that changed everything.
In 2017, he and his wife brought that knowledge to Guardamar del Segura — opening the town’s first Thai restaurant. They named it Ayutthaya, after Thailand’s ancient capital, a city that flourished from the 12th century as a centre of trade, culture and refinement.
We hope you enjoy the experience as much as we have enjoyed the journey.
