Years ago I made many trips to the St. Clair Inn in St. Clair, Michigan.  It was one of those charming old hotels on the water.  It was a place to have a nice dinner and to watch the boats go by and spend a relaxing afternoon or evening.  I think of the old days when there were passenger boats that used to ply the water ways visiting the Flats and other areas between Detroit and Port Huron.  Life was simpler and slower, and there was time to enjoy oneself with out the hustle and bustle.

The St. Clair Inn was part of that old time mystique of a bygone era.  The restaurant was on the backside of the Inn with a large panoramic view of the water.  Then it was an independent business and it prided itself on serving a dinner worth the trip, either by boat or car.   The food was not fussy, but it was a fine place to have a good fish dinner.  The perch, walleye and whitefish plates were notable.  The Peach Melba for dessert was an added inducement to linger longer and enjoy the ambience of not only the restaurant but of the water traffic.  I remember a friend that used to go on the trips that had a disdain for all seafood and would refer to all types of fish as “sea lamprey,” and would always have a steak.

With all of those wonderful offerings of fish dinners, is it any wonder that I remember having a Saintsbury Chardonnay from the Carneros designation of Napa Valley.  The winery was one of the first that I recalled that would list that the wine was unfiltered.  The wine had just enough of that classic Chardonnay crispness that I find so appealing with fish.  I find that most of the Chardonnay wines do not have a lingering after taste to combat the different preparations of fish.

Unfortunately the Inn became part of a national chain, and the restaurant underwent changes to accommodate the desires of the chain.  They modernized and tweaked the menu to be more for modern tastes at the expense of the historic charm of the old school presentations.  While the food is still of quality, the feeling of history and nostalgia seems to have left the room.  I have encountered this change from time to time at different locations, and I must admit that there are times when I miss the old days.