Ingredients

  • 3 cups dry red wine
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 14 cup brandy
  • 1 large onion, quartered with the root end attached
  • 2 carrots, cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 12 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 10 black peppercorns
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 4 allspice berries
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 lbs well-marbled beef chuck, cut into 2 1/2-inch pieces
  • 8 ounces thick slab bacon
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus
  • 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • all-purpose flour, for dredging, plus
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 lb white pearl onion, blanched and carefully peeled
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 1 lb small cremini mushrooms or 1 lb button mushroom
  • 1 tablespoon flour

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine the red wine, beef stock, brandy, onion, carrots, garlic, parsley sprigs, thyme, rosemary, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, and bay leaf and stir well.
  • Add the beef and stir.
  • Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
  • Drain the beef and reserve the marinade and vegetables separately.
  • Pat the beef dry with paper towels.
  • Set the beef and vegetables aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
  • Remove the outer rind of the slab bacon.
  • Cut the bacon into lardons: 1 inch long strips about 1/4- inch thick.
  • In a small saucepan, cover the lardons and the rind with cold water and bring to a boil.
  • Lower the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes.
  • Drain the lardons and rind, pat them dry, and reserve both.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the lardons and cook, stirring, until crisp and their fat has rendered.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the lardons to paper towels to drain.
  • Season the beef with salt and pepper, dredge in the flour, and shake off any excess.
  • Raise the heat to high and, working in batches, brown the beef.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a plate.
  • Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat and return to high heat.
  • Add the reserved vegetable mixture and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Return all of the browned beef to the pot.
  • Add the reserved marinade liquid, and reserved bacon rind.
  • Bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer the stew to the oven and cook, covered, until the beef is very tender, about 3 hours.
  • Remove the stew from the oven.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a plate.
  • Strain the liquid and discard the solids.
  • Return the beef and strained broth to the Dutch oven with the lardons.
  • Put the pearl onions in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter and the sugar.
  • Cover the onions with water and season with salt and pepper.
  • Simmer the onions over medium-high heat until almost tender.
  • Raise heat to high, and reduce the cooking liquid to about 2 tablespoons.
  • Continue to cook the onions, shaking the pan over the heat, until the onions are golden brown and glazed.
  • Transfer the onions to the stew.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in another skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook the mushrooms, tossing often, until golden brown, about 7 minutes.
  • Transfer the mushrooms to the stew.
  • In a small bowl, cream together the tablespoon of softened butter with the tablespoon of flour.
  • Roll the mixture into pea-sized pieces.
  • Bring the stew to a simmer and, while stirring gently, add enough beurre manie, bit by bit, to lightly thicken the sauce.
  • Divide the stew among 6 shallow soup plates and garnish each with a crouton.
  • Serve immediately with pasta or boiled potatoes.