Well Thaumaturge seems a right choice for you and you'll want to level Conjurer as well for some buffs. But you know that you can switch class on the spot right? So really it does not matter, just don't pick and discipline of Hand/Land as the starter job so you start with a weapon and some attacks.

As for server, I don't know I only been on the palamecia server... why I chose it? I liked the name. So really I think you should pick what server you like, I believe Besaid has a lot of NA people, but it's inscresing on every server I think.

The race is again really up to you, what are your preferences. It does not affect ANYTHING after level... 2. :P So just play what you like (Lalafel FTW!).

To make food and potions you need to be a culunarian and alchemist which you can be once you buy the skillet and alembic from the NPC vendor (it's like 2k gil each) so after that you can start crafting. On a side note, both of those class are really under-developped and are not usefull at all as the game stands, but they will fix it.

Hope that helps you make a choice.