"Fantastic!", "mouth-watering!" - these are just some of the reactions to the 'Warm new Pembrokeshire potatoes with roasted red peppers, torn mozzarella and fresh basil leaves' currently on the specials board in the Bothy Tearoom at the National Trust's Colby Woodland Garden. In fact there's quite a tale to tell as the potatoes used in the dish have been supplied by Peter and Gina Smithies, of Trehill Farm at Marloes who have just won a National Trust Fine Farm Produce Award for their crop of early new potatoes. The award has been designed to recognise the very best produce from National Trust land and looks to encourage and support those of it's tenants who are leading the way in promoting local and seasonal food. This is the second year that local farmers have triumphed; in 2006, one of only 13 national winners was Phil Rogers, of Pembrokeshire Coast Organic Meat at Cwmrath Farm, Summerhill (part of the National Trust's Colby Estate) who picked up an award for his organic Welsh lamb. For Penny Jackson and Sam Reohorn who run the Bothy Tearoom at Colby, the opportunity to serve up the award-winning potatoes is too good to miss. "We source the very best local produce we can," said Penny, "so we just had to get our hands on some of these great-tasting potatoes." Whilst the bulk of the crop from Peter and Gina Smithies (pictured above) will be eaten out of the county by Asda and Co-op customers, locals can find them in the Co-op store at Kilgetty, buy them direct from Trehill Farm, Marloes, or taste them at the Bothy Tearoom, Colby Woodland Garden, near Amroth, but be quick - they're so delicious, they won't be there for long!
