It's not so easy to find bean burgers, tempeh sandwiches or other natural, vegetarian alternatives.

In November, Jack-In-The-Green Deli opened inside Honeycomb Natural Foods store at 2838 Stable Drive.

The restaurant, which sells vegetarian sandwiches, natural fruit smoothies and pizzas with whole-wheat crusts, is having its grand-opening celebration Feb. 10.

Kitchen manager Jacob Williams said the business, owned by Honeycomb owner Janine E. Stine, is the first natural, largely-organic deli in the area.

Williams, who developed the menu, said the deli uses organic, locally-grown produce whenever possible - the store is limited by the Michigan seasons - and makes its foods from scratch.

"Nothing comes out of a can," he said.

Its menu offerings include a portabella mushroom sandwich,

Tempeh is an Indonesian, fermented soybean cake.

Most of the items on the menu are vegetarian, but the restaurant does serve dolphin-safe tuna and free-range chicken.

Free-range chickens are allowed to roam instead of being caged in a pen.

Chickens raised that way "are a lot happier before they get to the plate," Williams said. "I always believe happy food leads to happy people."

Williams, a chef with 13 years of experience at restaurants such as the Thomas Edison Inn, the Quay Street Brewing Co and Bistro 1882, all in Port

Huron, said the deli gives him the opportunity to combine his commercial interests with his natural, healthy lifestyle.

Williams' father, James Williams, is a nutritionist and herbalist and is leading monthly classes about all-natural, seasonal cooking at the deli.

Stine solicited Jacob Williams' help to open the deli, something she said she's wanted to do for a long time.

Demand is growing for natural deli foods, she said.

But things are changing.

"It's not the soybean burger of yesterday. It doesn't taste like paste," Stine said.

People are beginning to realize that, Williams said.

"They realize things can taste good and be good for you."