Boston Actor Finds Big Success Switching to Baking on Sunset Blvd

There are many people who plan a career and end up on a completely different path.

Such is the case with one actor from Boston, who went out to Los Angeles to act, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, he wanted to spread a little joy to his friends. That's when he discovered that he had another passion: baking.

Not only did Ben Sidell love baking, he was really good at it. He started baking cookies, buns, and cakes for friends and family, then delivering the goods. Once word spread about his delicious bakery confections, orders started coming in.

Overwhelmed with the popularity of his sweet bakery items, he eventually moved to a commercial kitchen on Sunset Boulevard in L.A., and named his company Sweet Boy.

Ben also has a food connection, with his mother being famous Boston restaurateur Kathy Sidell, owner of Saltie Girl Seafood Bar in Back Bay, and Stephanie's on Newbury. Kathy decided to open a Saltie Girl restaurant in Los Angeles and carry Sweet Boy bakery items, putting her son in charge of the desserts program.

In 2024, Ben went on to run the desserts program for the Boston restaurants as well. Now, Boston can experience the gooey goodness of Sweet Boy chocolate chip cookies, available at Saltie Girl Boston.

In Los Angeles, there's a catering and dessert ordering component, but it's not available in Boston (yet).

Ben is making plenty of people smile with his extensive dessert menu, like dark chocolate pistachio cookies, S'moreos, caramel cornflake cookies, almond toffee crunch cookies, rainbow sugar cookies, and regular and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. There's also sweet buns, babkas, and brownie brix.

Check out this video of his famous cookies.