Chop the onion & the bacon; start frying for about 5 min.
Optional: Add pressed garlic.
Add salt & pepper to taste.
Transfer everything in the slow cooker.
Cut the beef into pieces of about 3-4 cm & fry until slightly brown allover (in the same pan w/o cleaning).
Chop the carrots & the mushrooms & put into the slow cooker.
Add fried beef to the slow cooker.
Mix tomato purée w/ thyme & sweet paprika & sugar & pour into the slow cooker.
Pour the beef fond & the red wine in the slow cooker.
Add bay leaves.
Start the slow cooker on high temperature for at least 5 hours.
Discard bay leaves.
Add salt & pepper to taste.
Serve w/ roast potatoes, pasta, rice or just fresh baguette.