Crafting Noob Questions

[gaymer77]

Just picked the game up a couple weeks ago and I've decided that I need to level crafting up so I'm able to put extra materia in my gear that the materia mender won't put in there. So I have a few questions about crafting in general.

1. What is the best food to use when you craft? I'm usually crafting DoH tools every chance they come up from the professions as they pop up I can make them. I do the same with DoH armor too. There are a few instances where I'll craft DoM gear for myself to wear later & DoW gear for my boyfriend to wear now/later too. I always try for HQ gear since its pretty damn good gear to have.
   
2. Is there a better exp boost than the Company-issue Engineering Manual that I can get? It seems like the 50% boost is used up well before the 3 hours the buff is supposed to last because it only gives upto 50K bonus exp. If so, where would I get it from, what's it's name, and how much does it cost?
   
3. Are there any guides you can recommend to help someone to powerlevel crafting? I'd like to do it the most cost effective way possible.
   
4. What stats would you recommend putting into my gear from materia? I know gear has caps for each piece but since materia melding can get to the point where it is 10% or less to put in all the materia to max it out, it kinda makes no sense to go for the cap on each piece while leveling up professions.
   
5. Last thing is, is the ability "Observe" - Do nothing for one step really worth having on your toolbar? I don't see a point in doing nothing for one step. Maybe its because I haven't got to a higher level but to me it seems like a waste of a skill/slot.
   
6. Any tips or advice you can give for professions?