Pursuing a passion for food and cooking seemed far removed from the familiar routine of civil engineering practice. However, attending culinary school and testing these new skills in a restaurant, Jess Schroeder opened an exciting new chapter in his life. Balancing full-time engineering with these pursuits was a challenge, but achievable and rewarding.

One might think that cooking and engineering are completely different. However, similarities do exist. The Cook-The Engineer shares perceptions about contrasts and similarities between cooking and engineering. Then, the author's personal...