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HomeLifeRaising a glass to Michael Ondaatje at the Royal York’s Library Bar

Raising a glass to Michael Ondaatje at the Royal York’s Library Bar

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The Library Bar’s beverage director James Grant asked his staff to create cocktails based on their readings of Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion.

The Library Bar at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York hotel has developed a reputation for its intricate drinks and hefty price tags – named number six on Canada’s 100 Best Bars list in 2024, with the glowing review highlighting a drink that costs an outrageous $125 a glass. Now the location is leaning into its literary namesake. Beverage director James Grant wanted to take an entirely new approach creating the institution’s latest round of cocktails this October. To kickstart development on the menu, Grant asked staff to join a book club.

Together the bar staff read Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion, taking scenes and characters from the book and trying to interpret what they read through flavour combinations in the drinks. A story first method to creating a cocktail forced Grant’s staff to flex new creative muscles, though getting everyone on board took some buy in.

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Ethan Radcliffe
Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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