Ingredients:
- 1 pound button mushrooms, quartered
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 strips of un-smoked bacon, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
- 3 pounds well-trimmed boneless beef chuck, cut into 2″ cubes
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp flour (see head note)
- 1 cup cognac, (see head note)
- 3 cups beef stock (see head note)
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf