Whether you’re looking for recipes for your next party or decorating and gift ideas, the Hip Hostess is here to help!
I’m Ilana Eck (aka the Hip Hostess), and I created this blog as a way to share some of my tried and true party tips, ideas and recipes with anyone looking for inspiration. I’m a New York City based attorney, freelance writer, recipe developer and the entertaining expert for an online magazine. I know all about the time and effort it takes to plan a great party and hope that my hip tips help you plan your own fabulous parties.
The Hip Hostess 
Where do I find these White Butter Cream Cupcakes??! There aren’t any in my kitchen :O(
In the meantime, I can’t wait to try black beans on the next pizza I make. Yesterday I used a Trader Joe’s pesto crust and added red sauce, diced garlic, black olives and broccoli. I fully agree that medium spiced salsa does make an excellent red sauce substitute – even better, use half standard medium salsa and half Trader Joes pineapple salsa for a hot & sweet pie! The great thing about TJ’s crusts is that you can buy a few and toss them in the freezer. Simply thaw it on the counter on the day you will be using one, or in a bind, microwave it for 45 seconds, flip the pile of dough and repeat for another 30 or so.
🙂
Dear Hip Hostess:
I need help! We’re throwing a bridal shower in early May and we need some hip ideas to make it bearable!
Sincerely,
Tragically Un-Hip Soon-to-be-Hostess
I can’t wait to try the Salty Dog – that’s my kind of drink!
love your ‘sophisticated spring dinner menu’. do you have recipes for the quinoa salad with orange… and the salad with herb vinaigrette?
Hi Carol: I will try to post those recipes this week!
Dear Hip Hostess:
A little birdie told me that you have a recipe for home-made granola. Can you share?
Sincerely,
Crunchy
Carolyn: I will post the granola recipe this afternoon.
Dear Hip Hostess,
I LOVE your site and the tips you give. I wanted to let you and your readers know about my site as well : http://www.someonespoilme.com – the online guide to giving and getting stylish gifts. We feature a lot of great gifts that a stylish hostess such as yourself would love to receive. We would be honored if you would spread the word to your readers about our site.
Best,
Lisa
Hip Hostess,
The cookies you made for me were so damn tasty!!!!!!!! So much that I am a little upset with you. I came home after a night of barbecue and drinks and completely destroyed the bag of cookies you gave me.
Anyway, you should post the recipe if you haven’t already to allow your other readers to share in this tasty delight!
Bip
Bipin – I will defintely post the recipe for the chocolate espresso cookies this week. So glad you liked them!
Hey Ilana! Just wondering is there an e-mail address where I can reach you at by any chance with questions? Thank you so much!
I love your blog! Great writing, and lots of recipes I’m dying to try. I wanted to let you know that I linked to your site from my food blog, http://culinspiration.wordpress.com.
Looking forward to more!
We have a new client called The Hip Hostess, so I found you whilst Googling them.
Reach out to me asap. I would love to bring some of your flavor to our online magazine (http://www.thefamilygroove.com). We reach 160K monthly and I know our readers would dig your tips.
Thank you,
Jillian Swartz
Editor-in-chief
917.331.8282 c.
Cute Blog! I found you bc you just posted on my old sad little blog that I still love of course – Proscuitto wrapped Asparagus -I am serving them in a month at a cocktail party and they are a hit always and a classic
Hi Ilana,
Great website. I didn’t know you were so talented! I bookmarked your site for Eileen and will add it to my favorites when i get home. 🙂 Take care
Love your site, Ilana. I just voted for your recipe. May you win!
Serve only in glassware and with glass straws, the eco-elegant way to serve all beverages! Reusable, dishwasher safe, sizes and styles for all beverage-ware! GlassDharma guarantees their glass straws against breakage! Glassware puts the elegant twist on every party/event and it is planet-friendly!
I love your blog! I just stumbled upon it while looking for decoration and party ideas for my Latin American themed wine tasting this weekend. I look forward to reading more!
Dear Hip Hostess,
My husband and I recently completed a major renovated to our early 1800’s home in Newburyport, MA. For the past 6 months we have been living without a kitchen and forced to eat all varieties of horrendous take out!
Finally our new kitchen is complete and we have invited more than 40 friends and family to an inaugural cocktail party – the only problem is I haven’t cooked in so long I am drawing a complete blank on what to serve! I am looking for suggestions on prepare-ahead appetizers that won’t break the bank. We have a double oven so heating things up during the party won’t be a problem but I would also love some suggestions on fresh appetizers (other than my old standby shrimp cocktail…)
Please get back to me at your earliest convenience… I long to be a hip hostess, if even for just one night!
Looking forward to hearing back from you,
Need ideas in the New Kitchen
Dear Need Ideas in the New Kitchen –
Congratulations on the completion of your renovations! I know how much of a relief it must be to have that done. Double ovens?!? I am jealous!!! Now for the menu for your housewarming party…. The Sundried Tomato and Pesto Torta is a huge crowd-pleaser, perfect for make-head (it can be made up to a month in advance and frozen – I have done this before and it still tastes amazing). A simple crostini would also be great (make the toasted bread up to a week in advance and store in a ziplock bag separate from the topping) with a topping like fig jam with brie cheese and arugula or black olive tapenade and goat cheese, and will only take a few minutes to assemble right before guests arrive. I’d also recommend some sort of tasty dip – like edamame hummus (serve with rice crackers – wasabi flavor if you like some spice), black bean hummus (serve with any type of tortilla chips and some sliced cucumbers and carrots), or regular hummus (serve with whole grain crackers and assorted cut veggies). Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan cheese (or blue cheese) are always a huge hit, especially when there’s a chill outside. The dates can be stuffed and wrapped up to 2 days in advance and baked right before guests arrive (serve them over a bed of fresh arugula or spinach to add some color to the dish). Mini quiches would also make a great addition. Take my crustless spinach quiche recipe and use it in mini muffin tins to create a bite-size appetizer. Shrimp cocktail is always a hit but it is pricey so I usually save it for a smaller crowd. Make one hearty meat dish, like lamb or saucy beef meatballs, so there’s something filling for the carnivores. Use store-bought roasted nuts (or homemade if you are feeling ambitious), marinated olives and assorted cheeses and fillers for your menu. Spice up a typical cheese plate by adding fresh figs or dried apricots. Bake a few bite-size desserts – one cookie recipe (maybe molasses spice cookies – I know they are your specialty!), and one chocolate recipe (like chewy brownies) – so you’ll have a sweet ending.
So here’s the menu:
Sundried Tomato and Pesto Torta
Crostini with Fig Jam, brie cheese and arugula
Bacon wrapped stuffed dates
Hummus and veggies
Mini crustless spinach quiches
Saucy meatballs
Assorted cheese and crackers
Molasses spice cookies
Chewy chocolate brownies
Most of the recipes mentioned can be found on the Hip Hostess Blog (click on appetizers under the recipe section, and the quiche is under the brunch section). Hope your housewarming party is tons of fun! I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Thank you Hip Hostess!! I love all your suggestions – I am definitely going to give some of these recipes a shot and I will be sure to send along some photos afterward too!
this is my first time reading your blog and i am truly impressed! i can’t wait to try some of those recipes. you make the food look delicious. the only thing that would be better is if you made the food for me!
Love your site! I was looking for panini ingredients to do a station at a wedding. Yum!
Just wondering if you have a twitter or facebook page! (for your blog, not personal)
Hi Sarah – The Hip Hostess will have a FB page soon! Check back in about a week and thanks for asking.
i think you are my secret santa… got a gift basket today. love it! thank you 🙂