What crafting class should I pick up first?

[NanaWiloh]

I would like to add to what Frizze posted; I would advise leveling Botany and Mining alongside Culanary. You can get most of the non-crafted materials for Culanary from Botany, but Mining provides the various shards that all crafts use. You don't need to take mining very high at first, but as your crafting progresses you will need to bring mining up in Levels. No matter what crafting class you go with leveling Mining and Botany alongside side it will save you a lot of gil and headaches later on.

[Niwashi]

You can get most of the non-crafted materials for Culanary from Botany, but Mining provides the various shards that all crafts use.

To clarify this just a little: You can get all the shards from either Botany or Mining. However, at level 20 you get cross-class skills to increase your shard yield. If you have both BTN and MIN to at least that level, then you can use those skills for all six elements. With just one or the other, you'll only have access to three of them (lightning, fire, and water from Mining; earth, ice, and wind from Botany).

[savageink]

I always start with Goldsmith. Rings earrings and necklaces are needed by every job and they always seem like the least rewarded. It works for Old Man Manderville.

[NanaWiloh]

To clarify this just a little: You can get all the shards from either Botany or Mining. However, at level 20 you get cross-class skills to increase your shard yield. If you have both BTN and MIN to at least that level, then you can use those skills for all six elements. With just one or the other, you'll only have access to three of them (lightning, fire, and water from Mining; earth, ice, and wind from Botany).

Thanks for correction on that. Shows even a veteran can mess up.