They grow up so fast! The Entrepreneur Space, a food-and-business incubator operated by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, has just turned four years old, and all are invited to celebrate this milestone on Tuesday, February 3, 6 pm to 8 pm at 36-46 37th Street in Long Island City.

Dubbed “Cooks & Books,” the birthday party will feature about 30 E-Space clients providing samples of their delicious artisanal products alongside authors with copies of their recent books about the world’s most diverse borough. The literary guests will include Andrea Lynn of Queens: A Culinary Passport; Adrienne Onofri of Walking Queens; and Meg Cotner of the Food Lover’s Guide to Queens.

Partakers can expect great networking with 250 expected attendees, a smorgasbord of everything from spicy sauces to amazing (and often gluten-free) baked goods to chocolates and confections; useful information provided by the event’s lead sponsor, Oscar, a new kind of health-insurance company; alcoholic drinks donated by SquareWine & Spirits; and caffeinated beverages from nearby Coffeed, a specialty roaster and locally sourced café. Kaufman Astoria Studios is the other sponsor.

There’s certainly a lot to celebrate. A recent survey determined that the E-Space has helped more than 450 small businesses, generated $5 million in revenue, and created more than 100 jobs. Plus, Lonely Planet, a travel media company, recently selected Queens as the best tourism destination in the United States for 2015.

The E-Space officially opened on Jan. 19, 2011. This 12,500-sq.-ft., NYC Economic Development Corporation-sponsored hub features a fully equipped commercial kitchen, offices, and classrooms that entrepreneurs can rent at below-market rates as they build their businesses. To improve outcomes, QEDC also offers business counseling, technical assistance, and financial classes to clients on site. Currently, the E-Space has more than 165 clients, including dozens of bakers, an employment firm, and The Fortune Society, which trains individuals so they can enter the workforce in the food-preparation industry.

For more information, go to QEDC’s website, www.queensny.org, or the Queens Tourism Council’s website, www.itsinqueens.com. ‘)}