Fresh, Fast, and Female-Led: HOLR Sits Down With Blair Bitove To Learn About How She Turned a Personal Craving Into a Canadian Food Movement
When Blair Bitove couldn’t find healthy, quick meals that felt genuinely fresh and satisfying, she didn’t just keep searching—she decided to create the solution herself. Back in 2022, she launched Forest Hill Farmhouse, which is a Toronto-based eatery offering customizable salads, bowls, and house-made dressings that prioritize real ingredients and bold flavors.
Today, HOLR is sitting down with Blair to discuss how her passion has quickly grown into a local favorite. Plus, the brand already has expansion plans in place for Liberty Village, Calgary, and Vancouver. Keep reading to learn all about Blair, the inspiration behind the brand, the secret to her signature dressings, and what it takes to grow a purpose-driven business—without compromising on quality.
Your business was born out of a personal craving for fresher, lighter meals. When did you realize you had to take matters into your own hands and start Forest Hill Farmhouse?
I’ve always loved the energy you get from eating fresh, vibrant food, but I struggled to find quick options that didn’t feel heavy or processed. During the pandemic, when home cooking became part of everyone’s daily routine, I realized how much I craved something cleaner, something truly nourishing. It was around then that the idea really clicked – if I was looking for this, others must be too. Forest Hill Farmhouse was born from that need: a place where every salad and bowl felt homemade, intentional, and full of real ingredients you could feel good about.
Your dressings have become a signature part of the brand—can you share a bit about the creative process behind them and how they can elevate anything?
The dressing is everything…it’s the heart of a great salad. I spend a lot of time testing combinations in my kitchen, thinking about balance. Every dressing at Forest Hill Farmhouse is made from scratch with real ingredients: no fillers, no preservatives, just bold, fresh flavours. And I love hearing from customers who say they use our dressings at home too – they’re incredibly versatile, whether you’re tossing a simple salad or drizzling them over grilled vegetables or proteins.
We heard that you are expanding into Liberty Village next month, with Calgary and Vancouver on the horizon. What excites you most about growing beyond Toronto, and how do you plan to maintain the same hands-on, quality-first approach as the brand scales?
It’s incredibly exciting – and a little surreal! Liberty Village felt like the perfect next step because it shares that same vibrant, community-driven spirit as Forest Hill. Looking beyond Toronto to Calgary and Vancouver is a dream because there’s a real hunger across Canada for food that feels fresh, healthy, and made with care. As we grow, maintaining quality is non-negotiable. We’re investing in strong local teams, training them with the same obsessive attention to detail that we have at our original location. I want every new guest to feel the same authenticity and warmth that brought Forest Hill Farmhouse to life in the first place.
Many fast-casual spots struggle to balance convenience with truly healthy options. How does Forest Hill Farmhouse challenge that industry standard?
For us, “healthy” isn’t a marketing term; it’s a standard. We’re not cutting corners to save time or money. Our produce is delivered fresh daily, our proteins are prepared thoughtfully, and every component you see on your plate is chosen for a reason. We believe convenience doesn’t have to mean compromise. When you put quality first in every decision, from the sourcing to the prep, it becomes second nature to offer meals that are both fast and truly good for you.
As a female founder in the food space, what’s been the biggest lesson or challenge you’ve faced since launching in 2022? Additionally, what advice would you give to other women looking to turn a personal passion into a thriving business?
The biggest lesson has been learning to trust my instincts, especially in an industry that’s often dominated by big players and conventional wisdom. There were so many moments where it would have been easier to follow the “typical” path, but staying true to the original vision for Forest Hill Farmhouse has made all the difference. For other women looking to build something from their passion: trust that your unique perspective is your superpower. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision, stay resilient through the inevitable ups and downs, and remember that building something meaningful takes time, patience, and a whole lot of heart.
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Published by HOLR Magazine