Her five favorite things

Joan Leineke doesn't hesitate when asked what makes her kitchen her kitchen.

"Now that's a question I don't have to think twice about," she says.

Her five favorite things:

1. Wine-storage unit. It keeps bottles at the appropriate temperature. She says: "Wine is always ready for opening. Different ones for different servings at dinner."

2. Miele dishwasher. It does a full load in 10 minutes. "It's so quiet, you never hear it running."

3. Induction stove top. It quickly boils water and, with a turn of the knob, quickly cools. "I can have pasta ready in minutes."

4. Deep-fat fryer. It's part of Leineke's "line," which includes the induction stove top, a built-in wok, a griddle and, of course, her six-burner range. "I made fried chicken the other night. It also makes great tempura."

5. Ample counter space. Leineke's granite counters are deeper than standard, 30 inches instead of 24. "The depth was important to accommodate the range and the other appliances -- and for food-prep space."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)