French Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef (chuck, rump or brisket), trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
• 4 cups red wine
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves
• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 1 clove garlic
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 ounces thick bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 1 /2 cups beef stock
• Salt
• pepper
• 12 small pearl onions
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 12 mushrooms, quartered
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons soft butter mixed with 2 tablespoons flour
• Chopped parsley