What food do you use when tanking Gods/HNMs?

[Davitron3000]

Like the title says, what food do you use when tanking Gods/HNMs?
I see 3 options that I like: Pescatora, Carbonara, and Tavnazian Taco
Here are the stats on each taken from ffxi.somepage.com:

Pescatora
HP +15% (Cap: 150@1000 Base HP)
Vitality +3
Mind -1
Defense +22% (Cap: 65@295 Base Defense)
Store TP +6

Carbonara
HP +14% (Cap: 175@1249 Base HP)
MP +10
Strength +4
Vitality +2
Intelligence -3
Attack +17% (Cap: 65@382 Base Attack)
Store TP +6

Tavnazian Taco
HP +20
MP +20
Dexterity +4
Vitality +6
Agility +4
Charisma +4
HP Regeneration While Healing +1
MP Regeneration While Healing +1
Defense +25% (Cap: 150@600 Base Defense)

I have been using Pescatora. It doesn't give as many hit points as Carbonara,
but I like that it gives hit points and a defense bonus. Only thing is that
Pescatora is very pricey on my server. Since the shield updates, I have been
considering switching to tacos. Not as big of a hit point boost, but I was
wondering if the +4 Agility can make up for it with more shield blocks. Also,
the +4 Charisma could possibly help with intimidations? Tacos cost way
less than either Carbonara or Pescatora on my server.

So, let me know which of these you use or if you use something totally different...
Thanks in advance

[Icemage]

Re: What food do you use when tanking Gods/HNMs?

Most end-game paladins I know change foods based on what they're doing. Kiting battles where you're generally more afraid of magic damage than physical hits (King Behemoth, Kirin) or massive damage enemies (Dynamis Lord, some of the Jailers) most seem to prefer Carbonara for the extra HPs - it can mean the difference between surviving Stone V or Quake II or dying, for instance.

For enemies with lots of physical damage (even kited ones like Gration), the preference seems to be for Tacos for the improved DEF.

I don't know any paladins that regularly use Pescatora, simply because it's too rare. I'm in the tiny minority of players who are able to make Pescatora without outside help (the ingredient fish are unusual and nearly impossible to acquire in quantity unless you have high level Fishing), and even then I wouldn't make it by choice. It's just too much trouble for the price tag.


Icemage

[Davitron3000]

Re: What food do you use when tanking Gods/HNMs?

thanks Icemage. After thinking about it I think I will just use Carbonara and Tacos.
I was greatly swayed by the fact that a stack of Pescatora was 100k more than
a stack of Carbonara and I am cheap