get in behind

Posted on by Jo Rittey

If you build it, they will come. And if you are Nathan Toleman, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas, they will come in their hordes apparently. Or should that be herds? Top Paddock is the latest jewel in the cafe crown from the Melbourne royalty behind Three Bags Full (now run by new owners) and Two Birds, One Stone.

Catchy café names which reference sayings or nursery rhymes. It’s clearly the recipe for success. Plus great fit-outs, good coffee, baristas who are in the zone and have that frown that develops having stared at the coffee flow all day, and organic food with a smattering of middle-eastern sounding ingredients.

For me, Top Paddock conjures up rural New Zealand. As, perhaps it would, given I come from the country that still boasts the highest number of sheep per member of the population. 7.5 at last count.

According to the Economist. But ego-centric referencing aside, I’m picking Top Paddock has nothing to do with New Zealand. The name also makes me think of the game Squatter, which some kindly Australian visitor bestowed on us when we were children. It’s like the Australian outback version of Monopoly. With sheep and sheep stations. And threats of drought and bush fire. Very realistic. 
There is also an Australian term, ‘kangaroos loose in the top paddock’. If someone says this about you, well, I have to say, it’s not looking good. They’re saying you’re intellectually inadequate. I’m trying to make a link to the new kid on the Richmond block. I’m not sure. 
Anyway. Get in behind. And get away up to the Top Paddock.

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