What Vader Eats

There's an Eddie Izzard sketch that depicts Darth Vader in the Death Star's canteen. Heads up for those who haven't seen it — Vader and an unwitting canteen volunteer battle over a tray and an order for penne all'arrabbiata. What Glen Morris — owner of Glen's Espresso — took from the sketch was the idea that behind the scenes, in between battles, the Death Star must have had a canteen. "This was one of the many random ideas I tossed up," explains Morris. "[The Death Star Canteen] just stuck with me as something that people would really get a kick out of, and Star Wars is just one of those things that gives people permission to just be a big kid for a while and enjoy something innocent and awesome. I kept waiting for a responsible grown-up to tell me it was a stupid idea, but no one did and six months later here we are."

Morris admits his dark secret: "I'm a 'casual' fan. To be honest the Eddie Izzard take on it was what inspired me — the idea that in the background these guys have to eat, drink and go to the toilet just like the rest of us. You don't see much of that in the films," he laughs. "Having said that, the passion that people have for Star Wars is an amazing thing and I am very conscious that we are dealing with something that people love."

According to Morris, stormtroopers love nothing more than chowing down on a big sandwich — which is exactly what he'll be serving up. "A big hunk of sourdough with some slow -oasted meats, cheeses, fresh veggies and gourmet homemade sauces," he says. They're also whipping up a brekky menu, soups, salads, sweets and "a damn fine penne all'arrabbiata".

The Death Star Canteen is also environmentally conscious, and while Morris is putting aside his desire to make a vegetarian restaurant because "that is hard to force people into", all produce is ethically sourced, with organic, fair trade coffee, free range meat and eggs as well as using "as much bio packaging as I can". "Businesses have a huge impact on the environment but often seem to escape the sense of responsibility we are all meant to feel as individual citizens," he reflects.

"The tricky thing is that at its heart, this is also a really good CBD cafe that has to appeal to your average punter as well as Star Wars fans. For that reason the decor is 'understated hipster Star Wars chic'. Or something like that." They're going to have a big lego Death Star. 

The Death Star Canteen is still under construction, missing its original opening date on 4 May (ha ha). "... We're waiting for the building we're in to install some infrastructure before we can open. I explained how important May the Fourth was, but to no avail. June 1 [is the official opening date], to be confirmed. It's looking like a pretty crazy shebang [for the opening]. Costumes, comedy, music, live theatre (Shakespearean adaptations of episodes four, five and six, apparently) and much else. All in a place that seats 30." May the force be with you.