Sentence: After cutting the vegetables and laying them on the table,...

[Kitosdad]

Please Mr. Micawber... take a look at this sentence.

1) After cutting the vegetables and laying them on the table, the chef's assistant then started to prepare the meat.

2) The chef's assistant, having cut the vegetables and laying them on the table, then started to prepare the meat.

I am no grammar expert but,

I would say the first is Present Progressive-Continuous.

The second is Present Perfect/Progressive-Continuous.

I would like someone better equipped than I to really explain it.

Kitos.
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