The sources of delights, beauty and goodness are in ourselves and to seek the reasons from within is to seek the causes of our soul's pleasure.

Montesquieu ( Essay on Taste, 1757 )

Southern French traditional Recipe

Beef with anchovies from " la Beaucairoise "

Preparation: 30 min

Cooking time: 4 pm

Ingredients (for 5 persons):

- 1 kg chuck

- 200 g of bacon into thick slices

- 1 cup wine vinegar

- 1 bouquet garni

- 1 shot glass of brandy

- 3 or 4 cloves

- 2 onions

- 1 glass of cognac

- 1 small jar of capers

- 3 or 4 anchovies mashed

- 1 large glass of Picholine Olive oil 100%

- 1 bottle of good red wine

- Salt and pepper

Preparation:

Making the chuck cut into very thin slices.

In a large bowl, prepare the marinade: Place the bacon and slices of chuck. Rub well with brandy.

Pour the vinegar, add the bouquet garni, garlic and chopped onion, 1 clove, glass of brandy and Picholine Olive oil 100%. Marinate 24 hours.

Arrange bacon slices in the bottom a casserole. Divide the chopped garlic and onion in layers with slices of chuck, not forgetting to add salt and pepper.

Pour the marinade and cook over very low heat for 2 hours.

Add 1 onion stuck with cloves, bouquet garni, 1 tablespoon capers. Pour the red wine. Cook for another 2 hours.

When cooked, thicken the sauce with a little flour, anchovies and crushed a few extra capers.

Before serving, remove the onion and bouquet garni.