Exotic French Beef Bourguignon

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 170 C / 325 F. Cut the bacon into strips and cook for 2-3 minutes in a heated dutch oven. Remove the bacon but reserve the fat.
2. Cut the beef into chunks and season it with salt and pepper. Toss them in the flour. Brown the beef in the bacon fat in batches, remove and set aside.
3. Dice the carrots and onions into chunks. Add them to the same dutch oven and cook until softened.
4. Then add the minced garlic, tomato paste, beef broth, red wine, browned beef, cooked bacon strips, thyme sprigs, and the bay leaves. Bring it to simmer, cover with the lid and place it into the preheated oven for two hours.
5. Meanwhile in a separate pan, melt the butter, and add the mushrooms and pearl onions. Cook until they are softened and brown.
6. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Add the cooked mushrooms and pearl onions to the stew. Simmer for another 15 minutes on the stove.
7. Serve the Beef Bourguignon hot with fresh bread.