250g/9oz carrots, roughly chopped
2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
500g/1lb 2oz chestnut or white mushrooms, halved or cut into quarters if large
2 onions, roughly chopped
handful fresh thyme sprigs
225g/8oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling out
3 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 bay leaf
300ml/陆 pint good-quality beef stock
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
陆 tsp fine salt
1 tbsp tomato pur茅e
250g/9oz unsalted butter, cold but not rock hard (or you can use half butter, half lard)
knob of butter
1 free-range egg, beaten, to glaze
1 kg/2lb 4oz braising steak, cut into matchbox-sized pieces
300ml/陆 pint brown ale