Boeuf Bourgignon

Ingredients

• 1 pound button mushrooms, quartered
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 strips of un-smoked bacon, chopped
• 1 tablespoon 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 tablespoon flour (see head note)
• 1 cup cognac (see head note)
• 3 cups beef stock (see head note)
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf