Coconut chips and pistachio cream win innovative product awards

Presented by renowned Washington DC chef José Andrés Monday night, the best in condiments, appetizers, confections, jams and dressings were recognized at the 40th annual sofi awards at the Summer Fancy Food Show, an expo that showcases the latest in new specialty food innovations.

In the category of jam, preserve, honey or nut butter, the top spot went to Sabatino North America's pistachio cream, a rich dessert spread made from nuts grown in Bronte, Sicily, near Mount Etna. The cream can be used in desserts, as a filling for cannoli or as a topping for ice cream.

The consumer love affair with sea salt continues, as the show also gave top nods to a cultured butter with sea salt from Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, made with crème fraiche and churned into a rich butter with 86 percent butterfat content. Grains of Atlantic sea salt add crunch.

In tandem with the trends in coconut water comes a product that makes chips out of the fruit's flesh. Danielle Roasted Coconut Chips by New England Herbal Foods are roasted, baked coconut crisps that can be eaten alone or as an ice cream topping. The product also has the star-powered endorsement of celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay and Ming Tsai, who described the chips as addictive and innovative.

And a bottle of spicy, tangy Korean hot sauce, KimKim, emerged the winner in the cooking sauce or flavor enhancer category. Based on a spicy red bean paste called gochujang, KimKim can be used on everything from eggs to noodles and mac and cheese.

Here are some of the other gold medal finalists which were singled out among 2,520 products featured at the 40th anniversary of the show this year:

Sea Salt Caramel Crispy Crepes by Natural Nectar
Thin crispy crepe wafers with layers of sea salt caramel

Lime Moderne Bar
Chocolate and toffee bar with essential oil of lime

The Latest Scoop Ginger Pear Sorbet by Cable Car Delights Inc.
Pear puree and fresh ginger make this sorbet dense and creamy