Look at Carême, Escoffier, the Larousse Gastronomique for French cuisine. It's amazing, not just for the cheeses! So much regional choice, subtlety, variety, flavour and seasonal cooking.
British - traditional things like a good Sunday roast, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, steak and kidney pie, pork pies, sausage rolls, Stilton and port, rhubarb crumble. Now I'm stuck!