beef stock cubes - are there any that aren't made of crap?

[thereistheball]

I live in France, and need beef stock cubes (or beef stock) for a beef bourgignon that I want to make in the slow cooker. Bought the most expensive cubes I could find but they are basically salt and MSG, which I loathe. I have some Marigold powder - would that do instead? Or do I need to find an alternative stock cube? Or can anyone suggest where I might get proper beef stock from?

Have you tried asking in a butcher? My sister lives in Italy and she always gets her stock from a butcher.

Why not make your own stock from beef bones? If you make enough, then really boil to reduse it to a good jelly, freeze in ice cube trays to keep in the freezer.

I reckon Marigold would do fine too.

What is wrong with MSG?