Good Stuff

The Detroit News
Kate Lawson

One good wine
I love to sit outside on a warm summer night and sip a lovely, dry ros. My favorite this year is the 2006 Rosato from Kuleto Estate. Vibrant yet delicate, the rosy-hued wine in the tall, slender bottle is a lovely blend of Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel with the addition of Cabernet and Syrah for some added texture and full flavor. The result is an intense coral-colored wine with a bouquet of wild strawberries and blood oranges. Full of flavor without being heavy, this wine will make me sad to say so-long to summer. Ask about it at your favorite wine shop. Kuleto Estate Rosato retails for $17.
One good tool
It's time to toss out that clunky metal vegetable steamer that takes up all that room in the pots and pans drawer and replace it with this silicone SleekStor VeggiSteam from Chef'n. There's no more center post to take up valuable steaming space, and the 650-degree heat-resistant silicone helps you mold it inside any pot so you can steam more veggies. VeggiSteam is dishwasher safe and available in avocado, cherry and frost, and retails for $9.99. Available at ‹a target="new" href="http://www.chefsresource.com"›www.chefsresource.com .
One good event
The Michigan State Fair, which runs through Sept. 3, is always a fun place to be, especially if you're a foodie, and this year you can hone your very own pie-baking skills, thanks to Achatz Handmade Pie Co. and the Michigan Cherry Marketing Institute. Special discount classes will be offered at the fair so you can learn how to make a perfect pie pastry, then fill it with a luscious Michigan cherry filling. Achatz handmade cherry pies, along with the company's full line of fruit pies, tarts and cheesecakes, will also be available for purchase during the fair. The pie-baking class at 6 p.m. today at the Community Arts Building is $5 for children and $10 for adults. Achatz pies are also available at retail outlets, including Long Lake Market, Kroger, Nino Salvaggio, Plum Market and Whole Foods. Or visit Achatz Handmade Pie Shop; call (586) 784-4743 for a location near you.