Lower Tiers
In an attempt to make life a little easier, the powers that be have allowed low lvl toons to consume higher lvl food and drink. If you are leveling quickly, I'd actually recommend that you purchase or commission food that is of a higher lvl and of that 5 hr duration. This way you will not run out of or level out of food/drink as quickly, and will get the most out of your hard-earned cash. T8 food/drink is very expensive for lower lvls, though, so it's not recommended
There may be some overlap, but here is a basic guide for food/drink and optimal health/power regen:
lvl 25-34 toon - needs Level 30 food/drink
lvl 35-44 toon - needs Level 40 food/drink
lvl 45-54 toon - needs Level 50 food/drink
lvl 55-64 toon - needs Level 60 food/drink
lvl 65-74 toon - needs Level 70 food/drink
lvl 75-80 toon - needs Level 80 food/drink
(Note: if this seems odd, try an experiment with a lower lvl tier of food/drink - health and power disappear quickly and renew slooooowly.)
Prices and Searching the Broker
For every tier, you can purchase food/drink that will improve stats and last longer. Take a close look at prices! Some of those that seem cheap are not good bargains when you look at hour/cost ratio. I recommend starting at the priciest end and working backwards, looking for what seems to fit your needs best. THEN do a specific search for the coveted item to find the cheapest one. That way you can see the best that is available, and purchase exactly what you want without wasting your time and being tempted to buy the cheapest (but often the most expensive on a per-hour basis), non-benefit food/drink. Squeeze the most hours (everyone loves that 5 hr food, right?) and find the right stat mix for the money you are shelling out (keep in mind that lower tiers do not have as many stat options available in that 5 hr duration as T8 food/drinks).
Lower Tier foods commonly requested:
Hopple's Apple Pie------------Increases STR and STAM by 6.2--------5 hr duration---------Level 40
White Peach Pie---------------No bonuses--------------------------------------5 hr duration---------Level 50
Prickly Pear Crumpet---------No bonuses-------------------------------------5 hr duration----------Level 60
Screewoggin's Surprise------No bonuses-------------------------------------5 hr duration----------Leve 70
For Tier 8
For raiding and instancing, everyone over lvl 75 needs to have lvl 80 food/drink. The difference is noticeable.
Lvl 80 Drinks and Food commonly requested:
Rilissian Stimulant Drink----------- Increases AGI and STR by 13.2----------------5 hr duration
After Dark-------------------------------- Increases STAM and INT by 13.2--------------5 hr duration
Di'Zok Tranquil Tipple---------------- Increases WIS and INT by 13.2-----------------5 hr duration
Overthere Reserve Ale---------------Increases Max power and health by 80-------5 hr duration
Juicy Cranberry Cobbler--------------Increases AGI and STR by 13.2----------------5 hr duration
Rilissian Lichenclover Crisps--------Increases STAM and INT by 13.2--------------5 hr duration
Crispy Fried Prawn Heads-----------Increases WIS and INT by 13.2----------------5 hr duration
Luscious Cranberry Pie w/Cream--Increases STR and STAM by 13.2------------5 hr duration
Di'Zok Cranberry Pastry--------------Increases WIS and STAM by 13.2-------------5 hr duration
Many more foods and drinks are available to players - check out the broker to see what's available.
Lvl 80 Treats
There are specialized foods and drinks available for raiders and people with money who are serious about maximizing their use of another slot (in this case food and drink). Some are very pricy, and involve difficult-to-get items (like magma fish), while some are expensive only in fuel and involve materials that are more easily found. Here are a few more popular (in my experience) tasty treats:
Fiery Magma Infusion------------------- drink----increases spell damage and combat arts by 50----------30 min duration
Succulent brutemarrow infusion------drink----parry 2.2% incoming attacks - great for MT---------------30 min duration
Bruteflesh reduction----------------------food-----incr STAM by 17.8, parry 2.2% (stacks with above)----30 min duration
Di'Zok Blissful Obscurity----------------food-----decreases hate gain by 4%-------------------------------------30 min duration
Novelty Items
Provisioners also make novelty items, like the Vampiric Toothache, Beghn's Death-by-Chocolate Cake, Brasse's Dwarven Battle Bread, Frizznik's Projectile Gnomish Pudding and more. They are just for fun, and are not equipped in the food/drink slots.
Hoping this was helpful
Kardinal
