The article focuses on teacher-based materials development, which encourages teachers to create their own materials to align with the needs of their students. Topics include a case study in which a teacher in Hong Kong created a learning unit for her English as a Second Language (ESL) class, aimed at developing critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness; and the purposes of teacher-based materials design are to promote situational interest and affection in food culture. Copyright © 2023 Wiley-Blackwell.