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Read the press release here.

Wow Bao Eating Contest Celebrates Fast-Casual Eatery's 10th Anniversary

 Love steamed Asian buns? Eat as many as you can in two minutes to win a year's supply.
Love steamed Asian buns? Eat as many as you can in two minutes to win a year's supply.
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STREETERVILLE — Love Wow Bao? You can get a free year's supply of their signature steamed buns — if you can cram enough in your mouth in two minutes to beat the rest of Chicago.

The Lettuce Entertain You fast-casual restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an eating contest at its Loop and flagship Water Tower Place locations, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Starting Aug. 12-16 and 19-23, the restaurant will host "semifinals" at the State and Lake site for dozens of bao fans in pre-arranged time slots, followed by a "championship" round for those winners on Aug. 28 at Water Tower Place.

Contestants get to choose their bao flavor from the selection of savory options, which includes spicy Mongolian beef, whole wheat edamame and Thai curry chicken.

The ultimate prize? A year's supply of free bao, six per day, seven days per week, which shakes out to more than $3,400 in free food: plus a $10 Lettuce Entertain You gift card for every bao downed in the championship round.

In addition to qualifying for the finals, winners in each semifinal round will also get a free T-shirt and a catered lunch for 20. All participants will leave with a $10 Wow Bao gift certificate just for trying.

Register on the restaurant's website for a semifinals time slot.