Daube de Boeuf À la Gasconne Gascon Style Beef Stew

Name: 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 and freshly ground pepper, to taste; 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)