Bordelaise Sauce

Make a bouquet garni: Tie parsley, thyme, and bay leaf in a small square of cheesecloth. Season meat with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, just until beginning to smoke. Add meat and sear until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Add shallots, garlic, and bouquet garni, and cook until shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes.

Add red wine, and bring to a boil, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook until liquid is dark and syrupy and reduced by one-third, about 10 minutes.

Add veal stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook, skimming as necessary, until the liquid has reduced by two-thirds, about 40 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months.