Ingredients

6 oz bacon, chopped into 1/4″ strips
2 Tbsp olive oil, to sautee
2 lbs beef stew meat, (or beef chuck cut into 1″ pieces)
2 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste, divided
1 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups good dry red wine
1 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2″ thick pieces
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
4 cups low sodium beef broth , or beef stock
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 lb small potatoes, new potatoes, or fingerling, halved or quartered