Roast Goose and Gravy

Directions
Preparation:30min  ›  Cook:3hours  ›  Ready in:3hours30min 

1. Discard loose fat from goose. Remove neck, cut into large pieces and reserve. Rinse goose inside and out and pat dry. Pierce skin of goose all over and season with salt and pepper.
2. Loosely pack neck cavity with enough bread to fill. Fold neck skin under body and fasten with a small skewer. Quarter 1 onion and all the celery and place inside the body cavity of the goose. Tie legs together loosely with kitchen string or insert legs through slit in lower skin flap. Transfer goose breast side up to a rack set in a deep roasting pan.
3. Cut remaining 2 onions and carrots into 5cm pieces. Scatter onion and carrot pieces, neck pieces, and giblets in roasting tin. Roast goose at 220 degrees C in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.
4. Reduce temperature to 160 degrees C. Carefully pour boiling water over goose; juices may splatter. Continue roasting goose, skimming off fat and basting with pan juices using a metal bulb baster every 20 minutes. Cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours more. When done, the juices should run clear when thigh is pierced with a skewer.
5. Transfer goose to a heated platter. Remove skewer and discard string. Keep goose warm and loosely covered with foil until ready to serve.
6. With a slotted spoon discard vegetables, neck pieces and giblets from pan. Spoon off fat from pan juices and reserve. On top of stove, deglaze pan with white wine and port over moderately high heat; scrape up brown bits. Add chicken stock and boil mixture until reduced by about half. In a 3 litre heavy saucepan, whisk together 4 tablespoons reserved fat and flour; cook roux over moderately low heat, whisking to prevent lumps. Whisk chicken stock mixture into the roux. Bring gravy to a boil, whisking constantly. Turn down heat. Simmer gravy, whisking frequently for 5 minutes or until thickened. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Transfer gravy to a heated sauceboat.