Daube de Boeuf À la Gasconne (Gascon-Style Beef Stew)

Ingredients

• 3 oz. slab bacon, cut into 1/2″ matchsticks
• 3 1⁄2 lb. beef chuck, trimmed and cut into 2″ pieces
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground pepper
• 10 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 1⁄3 cup armagnac or another brandy
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 (750-ml.) bottle light-bodied red wine, such as pinot noir
• 3 sprigs parsley
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• Cheesecloth, for herbs
• 2 oz. roughly chopped dark chocolate
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 4 oz. porcini or white button mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
• Country bread, for serving (optional)