Review of A Second Helping

Post by **Diana Lowery** » 24 Oct 2022, 10:17

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Second Helping" by Tom Schaudel.]

4 out of 4 stars

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The casual portrait of the author on the cover hints at the friendly tone of this humorous collection. Readers will feel as though they are sitting at the bar listening to the owner tell some funny stories that happened at one of his restaurants. Tom Schaudel has worked in restaurants since he was 15. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1973, he opened many establishments in Long Island. His long career dealing with customers has provided him with plenty of comedic material. A Second Helping is appropriately named because this is his second book on the topic of wining and dining.

Schaudel's first story in this 398-page book doesn't appear until page 25, but the entertainment factor begins with the testimonials, foreword, acknowledgments, author's notes and introduction. The author even includes a funny warning about who should not read the book. He mentions the use of adult language and sexual references. While these instances were plentiful, I did not find them offensive or vulgar.

After reading one of the short chapters, I would think that it was my favorite, but then the next one became my favorite. "I Do ...Don't I?" discusses failed marriage proposals in a restaurant setting. "Quiet Please" deals with feuding tables. Although "Opening Salvos'' covers politics, there is no apparent partisanship noticed. I never tired of hearing about the activities that took place both in the front of the restaurant and behind the kitchen doors. The book also includes a touching tribute to Shorty, the quirky cook who mentored young Tom.

It is rare that I come across a book with no negatives, but this one meets that criteria. There were a few grammatical errors, but I would not have noticed them if I hadn't been looking. The author does take advantage of some creative use of italics and sentence fragments, but they are appropriate for the tone of the book. One of the people that Tom acknowledges is his ninth-grade English teacher. I am sure she is pleased with his efforts.

I heartily endorse A Second Helping with a four out of four-star rating. Individuals who work in the service industry will be able to relate to the narrative. People who enjoy dining out might have witnessed some of the behaviors portrayed on these pages and would relish reliving the episode. Hopefully, readers will learn some tips on how to be a good restaurant patron from reading what not to do. Honestly, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love this book.

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A Second Helping
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