Louisiana Seafood Board Sends Crawfish to Joshua + Video

Source: Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board

NEW ORLEANS, March 15, 2012 (PRNewswire) - The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB) sent 60 pounds of boiled crawfish to American Idol Top 11 Finalist Joshua Ledet, from Westlake, Louisiana, as a surprise on last night's (03/14/2012) live American Idol program.

According to Executive Director Ewell Smith, LSPMB sprang into action as soon as Ledet said that he missed Louisiana food and asked judge Randy Jackson, also from Louisiana, to help him out. Randol's Restaurant of Lafayette, Louisiana, supplied the crawfish and LSPMB put together a Louisiana care package to accompany the crawfish.

Working with the American Idol producers, and collaborating with the Louisiana Office of Tourism to include a letter from Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, the Seafood Board arranged for a surprise onstage "crawfish boil" for Ledet. When the crawfish were presented, several young audience members were also onstage and Ledet was asked to show them how to peel and eat crawfish.

Smith said, "We were delighted with the opportunity to support Joshua, not only as an American Idol finalist but also as someone who appreciates the uniqueness of Louisiana seafood. The chance to show the world how to eat Louisiana crawfish was priceless, and we were so happy to be able to help out."