Step 1

Preheat oven to 325°F

Step 2

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onions and season with kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Step 3

Add tomato paste and garlic, cook, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes, until rust colored.

Step 4

Add flour and stir, cooking for about 1 minute.

Step 5

Whisk in broth slowly, then wine.

Step 6

Add herbs and bay leaves and bring to a simmer, about 3 minutes.

Step 7

Stir in beef and return to a simmer.

Step 8

Transfer to oven and cook, uncovered for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Step 9

Remove from oven and using a spoon, scrape down the brown bits that have formed on the side of the pot. Add the potatoes and carrots to the stew, stir and rearange meat so that it is on top of the vegetables and sticking out of the sauce as much as possible (this way it will brown in the oven)

Step 10

Return to oven and cook uncovered for another hour or until potatoes and carrots are tender.

Step 11

While stew is cooking, prepare topping.

Step 12

In a medium saute pan, add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 13

Add bacon pieces, cover pan and turn heat on to medium high. Bring to a boil.

Step 14

When water is boiling, remove lid and add pearl onions and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until water has evaporated.

Step 15

Add mushtrooms and season with just a little salt (remember, bacon is already salty!). Reduce heat to medium low.

Step 16

Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are nicely browned, 20-30 minutes. Depending on how much fat your bacon releases, you may need to add just a little olive oil to the pan to coat the vegetables.

Step 17

When stew is done, remove from oven, stir and again scrape browned bits from the sides into the stew. Taste stew and season with salt and pepper if needed.

Step 18

To serve, spoon stew into bowl and top with some vegetable topping and fresh parsley, if desired.

Step 19

Serve with bread (optional, but strongly advised).