I will not be making this dish again.

I made it last winter for guests, and loved the way it filled the flat with the aromas of meat, wine, thyme, and shallots as it cooked. It also tasted fantastic.

But the guests forgot to come, and we were eating it for weeks...

I made it yesterday again just for us, thinking it's nearly the end of winter, and we can't miss out on this classic cold-weather food.

But this was the first time we'd used the oven in this flat, and it was apparently still coated with oven-cleaner. Plus, I spilled some of the contents on the oven floor when sliding it in. So this time, my boeuf a la bourgignonne filled the flat with the smell of burnt wine and thyme, plus oven-cleaner fumes that gave me a headache.

Morals:

1. Never invite guests; and
2. Never try to repeat any serendipitous food experience.

It tasted good, though...