The Challenge of Black and White Print Exposure

How do you choose the right grade of paper to get black blacks and white whites, without either loss of detail in the extremes, or a flat muddy result?
Having chosen the grade, how do you decide on the correct exposure?
How do you get the skin tones right in a portrait?
How do you choose the right paper grade and exposure for “difficult” subjects such as a fried egg on a white dinner plate or greyscale picture.
The RH Designs Solution!