EaterWire: Scott Howard's New Gig, Shutters at Google

BERKELEY—More name chef action in the East Bay: almost exactly a year after pulling the plug on his eponymous restaurant at 500 Jackson, Scott Howard has signed on at the new project in the remodeled Hotel Shattuck Plaza, according to tomorrow's Scoop. The restaurant, called Five, is expected to open sometime in April. [Chron]

MOUNTAIN VIEW—Not even the Google Cafeteria is safe in times like these. Valleywag reports that two more of the free campus eateries, Basic Deli and 5ive, have shut down. These closures aren't the first (Off the Grid closed in October), nor will they likely be the last (Plymouth and Oasis are rumored to be next). [Valleywag]

SOMA—On Townsend, South Food + Wine Bar has introduced a new bar bites menu with items for $5, and is also introducing a Currency Converter Happy Hour on weekdays 4pm-6pm: "The Australian dollar has tanked - so sip in sympathy on a savvy blanc or shiraz – you'll pay the exchange rate of the day, today thats a $10 glass of wine for $6.50!" [EaterWire]

SANTA CRUZ—Not only is Manresa's David Kinch appearing on Iron Chef this month, but the two-star Michelin chef is also consulting these days. From the Santa Cruz Sentinel: "Bonny Doon Vineyard has a handshake agreement with Kinch to work as a consulting chef, Bonny Doon spokesman Burke Owens confirmed. 'He will be appointing someone who will be the actual hands-on chef. We are working with him to find a new chef,' Owens said. 'We're quite excited to work with him, of course.'" [SCS]

TV LAND— Oh lordy. Sandra Lee gets another show: "Sandra's Money Saving Meals will premiere on May 10 at 12 p.m. The show will focus on Lee's 'triple A factor' of accessible, aspirational, and affordable food." [YumSugar via ENY]

[Photo: Flickr/NRBerkeley]