Four years after making it to the finale of TV’s “Hell’s Kitchen” as a contestant, celebrity chef Jason “Jay” Santos is finding creative new ways to keep his face in front of the public.
The blue-haired owner of Abby Lane Boston and Back Bay Harry’s has struck a licensing deal with Card.com to put his image on a prepaid MasterCard debit card. He’s the first celebrity chef to be featured by the California-based mobile banking startup, which hawks customized cards for brands from Care Bears to “Star Trek” characters.
“We like to work with anyone who has a big following,” said Card.com chief executive Ben Katz. “Also, our product is a very visual one, and he’s an interesting-looking person with his hair, so that helps.”
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With his regular cooking segments on morning talk shows, successful restaurants, and occasional reappearances on “Hell’s Kitchen,” Santos has built a strong online following. Card.Com is betting his fans and other culinary-minded customers will snap up Santos cards.
Santos said the deal was a no-brainer.
“This card is going to be everywhere, and I don’t really have to do anything but agree to it,” he said. “Being a chef nowadays is all about exposure and building your brand. It should be all about the food, but it’s not, so I’m trying my hardest to stay relevant and be out there.”
A Glendale, Calif., licensing agency, C3 Entertainment Inc., scored the Card.com deal for Santos, who declined to detail its terms. Other cards sold on the site feature popular television shows, stock-art photos representing hobbies and sports, and cartoon characters such as Popeye and Garfield.
Card.com is set to issue a Santos credit card in February. Customers who pay with either card at his restaurants will probably get a free appetizer or dessert, Santos said.
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Santos, who earned TV fame for his blue mane and relentlessly outgoing and upbeat demeanor, admitted it’s strange seeing his face on a card. Still, he’s having fun hyping it to employees and family members.
“I’m still trying to get my mom to order one,” he said. “And I’m going to make the line cooks take me out to dinner and pay with it.”
Dan Adams can be reached at dadams@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielAdams86.