DENVER – About 24 hours after a heartbreaking home opener, Broncos Country washed the bitter taste from their mouths with local cuisine from 30 Denver restaurants as part of the team's fifth annual Taste of the Broncos presented by King Soopers.

The Broncos faithful filled Noble Energy Sports Legends Mall on the south side of Empower Field at Mile High to sample everything from whiskey-flavored ice cream to chicken caprese "Flacco Bowls" — and to meet some of their favorite players.

More than 40 Broncos players mingled with fans, helped prepare food and raised money for Food Bank of the Rockies and Denver Broncos Charities.

"This is the only event where you get this much time alone with fans and they get to see you more as a person, rather than just a football player," Brandon McManus said. "They get to meet you more. It's exciting any time we're out here, especially when you have over 40 teammates here — it's almost the whole team. To help support the community is the best thing you can have."

McManus emceed the event and joked that his job behind the microphone was more nerve-racking than his job kicking in front of 76,000 fans.

The relationship between the fans and the Broncos players, each in their jerseys, drove Chef Troy Guard of TAG Restaurant Group to serve as lead chef of the event. Guard takes pride in the event's unique ability to bring football and food together.

"Obviously, I love food. It's a good way to give back in our community," Guard said. "But football always brings people together and that's really, really good. So, why not use football and food at the same time?"

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco found himself a rookie among his more experienced Taste teammates, but he enjoyed garnishing chicken caprese bowls at Guard's booth and calling fans over to give them a try.

"It doesn't matter how long you've been here," Flacco said, "it's always important to reach out and touch everybody in the community and show that you're a part of it."