250 g (8 oz) carrots, cut in 2 cm (3/4 in.) thick slices
Marinade:
750 ml (3 cups) red wine
150 g (5 oz) carrots, diced
3 medium onions, diced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1 dried orange peel
30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
30 ml (2 tbsp) red wine vinegar
15 ml (1 tbsp) herbes de Provence
2 bay leaves
10 ml (2 tsp) black peppercorns
Preparation
Cut the beef into 5 cm (2 in.) thick cubes and marinate in a large dish.
Add the wine and the rest of the marinade ingredients. Stir.
Refrigerate for 24 hours.
Stir 3 or 4 times during the marinating period.
Remove the beef cubes, making sure no residue from the marinade remains on the meat. Drain. Set aside.
Pour the marinade through a strainer.
Reserve the liquid that will be used as the cooking juice and eventually as the sauce.
Discard the rest of the marinade ingredients.
In a casserole, brown the bacon over medium heat. Pat dry.
Keep the bacon fat.
Flour the meat cubes and gently brown a small quantity at a time in the bacon fat (add a bit of oil if needed).
Once finished, wash the casserole.
Place the browned meat cubes and diced bacon back into the casserole and add the strained marinade.
Cover and start cooking over low heat (the key to the recipe is in the slow cooking - the stew should simmer very lightly during the whole cooking time).
Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the demi-glace, olives and carrots).
After 2 hours of cooking, remove the fat with a ladle.
Add the demi-glace and olives.
Periodically check the tenderness of the meat, and plan 30 to 45 minutes for the carrots to cook.
When you think it's almost ready, add the carrots and finish cooking.