Place oven-safe bowl or crocks on a rimmed baking sheet.

Over medium heat, melt the butter in a heavy bottom pot. Add in the onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaves and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally for an additional hour. Increase the heat under the pot to medium-high until the onions are a deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Pour in the wine and reduce by half.

Then pour in the beef and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Once bubbly, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Taste and season with kosher salt and black pepper. (for me it was 1-1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper)

Ladle about a half cup of the soup into the crocks. Place one slice of french bread onto soup, top with a little cheese and then ladle in more soup. Float another slice of bread on top and divide the remaining cheese over top. note: the two slices of bread is totally optional, we love it but you can of course do the one slice.

Preheat your broiler, once hot- slide the pan holding the soups underneath. Broil until the cheese has melted and is slightly golden brown.

Top with snipped fresh chives and serve immediately.